The Chair of the Committee on Ukraine’s Integration into the EU met with
Gaël Veyssière, Ambassador of France to Ukraine. Ivanna
Klympush-Tsintsadze informed that Ukraine fulfilled more than 95% of the
requirements that accompanied the granting of candidate status for joining
the European Union. “We hope for a positive conclusion and a decision to
open negotiations on membership already this year. This requires a
unanimous decision of EU member states. We hope that France will not only
support this decision but also help in communication with other
countries,” said the Chair of the Committee. She expressed hope that
Ukraine's European integration will not become a hostage to the process of
internal reforms in the EU. “It is critical for us that no form of
integration substitutes full membership. Because only full membership in
the EU is our goal,” said Ivanna Klympush-Tsintsadze.
Gaël Veyssière emphasised that President Emmanuel Macron clearly stated
that France wants to see Ukraine in the EU. And the reform of the European
Union should not make countries seeking to join wait for it to be
completed. The ambassador noted that France's position is also that the
candidate countries could take advantage of closer cooperation with the EU
even before full membership, in particular, the advantages of economic
integration.
The Chair of the Committee also emphasised that Ukraine is counting on the
support of the European Union even after the opening of negotiations,
because this is a complex process that will require a lot of institutional
work, and therefore, coordination and assistance from the EU. According to
Ivanna Klympush-Tsintsadze, the increased attention of the European Union
will help Ukraine to complete reforms and preserve the assets that have
already been achieved.