Chair of the Verkhovna Rada Committee on Ukraine’s Integration into the European Union Ivanna Klympush-Tsintsadze, during a working visit to Brussels, met with Director-General of the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Enlargement and Eastern Neighbourhood (DG ENEST) Gert Jan Koopman and Head of the European Commission’s negotiating team for Ukraine’s accession to the EU Anna Jarosz-Friis.

The meetings took place against the backdrop of decisions adopted at the European Union level. During the Cypriot Presidency, despite Hungary’s position, the EU’s negotiating positions for all clusters were transmitted to Ukraine. At the same time, the Council of the EU, with the exception of certain Member States, reaffirmed its unwavering support for Ukraine and its readiness to continue advancing the negotiation process. However, the €90 billion loan for Ukraine and the EU’s 20th sanctions package remained blocked. “Nevertheless, for progress on the European integration track, the ball was now entirely in Ukraine’s court. Yet in recent months we have had little to demonstrate, and this systemic slowdown in fulfilling our commitments was visible from all sides,” Ivanna Klympush-Tsintsadze noted.

The meetings focused on priorities, challenges, and urgent tasks for Ukraine’s successful transformation; the need to restore the balance of powers; rethinking political relations to form a coalition of national unity; fulfilling already undertaken commitments; and creating the conditions for an updated “Ukraine Plan”. Particular attention was paid to critical issues in the energy sector and the need to adopt urgent decisions in this area.

The Chair of the Committee also emphasized the importance of active interinstitutional dialogue with the European Commission for Ukraine’s further effective progress towards EU membership. “Against the backdrop of the decisions adopted that week, it was important to maintain dialogue between the parliament and European institutions, in particular with the relevant directorate within the European Commission, as such interaction made it possible to align priorities in a timely manner, respond to challenges, and ensure Ukraine’s systematic progress towards EU membership,” Ivanna Klympush-Tsintsadze said.