The Chair of the Committee on Ukraine’s Integration into the EU, Ivanna Klympush-Tsintsadze, and the First Deputy Chair of the Committee, Vadym Halaichuk, participated in the COSAP meeting of the platform of committees on European integration of the Western Balkan countries in Tirana, Albania. Candidate countries from outside the region, including Ukraine, were also invited to the meeting. “This is a discussion between the countries of the Western Balkans, to which candidate countries from Eastern Europe and Turkey were invited. It is an important platform for exchanging views, raising awareness and better understanding of the common challenges we face on the path to European integration,” said the Chair of the Committee on Ukraine’s Integration into the EU.

Ivana Klympush-Tsintsadze noted that such meetings are valuable because they allow one to see the ambitions of each state, as well as internal obstacles and difficulties with transformation on the way to the EU. “We all have to elaborate on such issues if we want to see Europe as a common secure and prosperous space. There is a common understanding that each new member state can bring additional benefits to the common European project. There is also a clear understanding that there should be no competition at the expense of each other,” said Ivanna Klympush-Tsintsadze. According to her, Ukraine appreciates that the countries of the Western Balkans, which are more advanced in European integration, are ready to share with Ukraine their experience. They are also interested in Ukraine’s achievements. “Our partners from different member states of the European Union also repeatedly emphasised that this is a valuable and important horizontal interaction, which will be useful in the European integration process. “We were told many times that the process of transformation within countries during European integration is extremely valuable and beneficial for citizens. Therefore, equipped with additional knowledge, we hope to continue strengthening these ties," commented the Chair of the Committee on Ukraine's Integration into the EU on the results of the COSAP meeting.