The Chair of the Committee on Ukraine’s Integration into the EU, Ivanna Klympush-Tsintsadze, met with the Ambassador of Lithuania to Ukraine, Inga Stanitė-Tolochkienė. They discussed Ukraine’s European integration, the need for an effective communication strategy on this path, and the legislative process in Ukraine.

Ivanna Klympush-Tsintsadze thanked Lithuania for its strong support for Ukraine, in particular for its European integration. Earlier this week, the European Union launched a new Ukraine2EU program to support Ukraine on its path to EU membership. The program will be implemented by the Lithuanian Central Project Management Agency. In cooperation with Ukrainian authorities and civil society, the Ukraine2EU program will support Ukraine at all stages of its preparation for EU membership, while remaining flexible and adaptable to the country’s needs.

During the meeting, special attention was paid to shaping the European integration narrative. It was mentioned that the current communication of European integration is mainly focused on highlighting the steps and measures that Ukraine is taking at the state level. At the same time, European integration, according to the Chair of the Committee, means, first of all, changes in the quality of people's lives. It is necessary to inform society about these changes, including both the benefits and temporary difficulties that may arise on the way to the EU. The Chair of the Committee also warned that it is very dangerous to consider "third" ways as alternatives to European integration.

The parties also discussed the law-making process in Ukraine. Ivanna Klympush-Tsintsadze noted that the implementation of EU law into Ukrainian legislation requires a systemic approach, not an urgent one, as is the case now. In particular, the Committee on Ukraine's Integration into the EU must often analyse draft laws under enormous time pressure and work overtime to prepare its conclusions before the vote in the Verkhovna Rada to ensure compliance of the legislature with EU law. According to the Committee Chair, this approach exhausts the limited resources of the Committee's secretariat. To address this issue systematically, strategic planning is needed, as well as increased institutional capacity of Parliamentary Committees, including the Committee on Ukraine's Integration into the EU. “Without planning and a systematic approach in solving particular tasks, it will be very difficult,” emphasised the Committee Chair. She also noted that the transparency of the Verkhovna Rada's work is in question. “Due to martial law, parliamentary sessions are closed. This does not contribute to the transparency and public accountability of the Verkhovna Rada. The situation needs to be improved regardless of martial law,” said Ivanna Klympush-Tsintsadze. She insisted that political pressure, monopolisation of the information space and attacks on the opposition are inadmissible. “We saw how the language of the European partners changed in last year’s European Commission report on enlargement compared to 2023. They made clear that these problems need to be addressed. I have a concern that in 2025 we will receive a tougher report on these issues,” said the Committee Chair. She stressed that attempts to set the earliest possible date for accession to the EU will not help Ukraine if it does not carry out real reforms. Ivanna Klympush-Tsintsadze is convinced that European integration should serve as a beacon for everyone and unite society. As a result, Ukrainian society will be able to benefit from European integration and Ukraine’s status as a full-fledged and respected member of the European community.

Inga Stanitė-Tolochkienė noted that Lithuania is one of the most consistent advocates of Ukraine in the European Union. As the country with the highest level of Euro-optimism among its population, Lithuania supports Ukraine's European aspirations, while emphasising the importance of creating a clear reform roadmap for Ukraine.