The Chair of the Verkhovna Rada Committee on Ukraine’s Integration into the EU, Ivanna Klympush-Tsintsadze, met with representatives of the Ukraine2EU project — a European Union programme aimed at supporting Ukraine on its path toward EU membership. The participants discussed the challenges Ukraine faces on its way to joining the EU, as well as the strengthening of institutional capacity in the European integration process.

Ivanna Klympush-Tsintsadze emphasized that one of the key tasks is the establishment of a sustainable institutional system that will function regardless of individuals or changes in leadership. She is convinced that this will ensure continuity of the process. The Committee Chair also stressed the importance of enshrining procedures in legislation to safeguard the sustainability of reforms. According to her, the parliament is currently working on amending the regulations and procedures for the adoption of EU-integration-related draft laws. However, the Committee on Ukraine’s Integration into the EU has not been involved in this process. “There are proposals regarding a so-called fast track for considering draft laws, but this raises concerns about safeguarding the rights of MPs, in particular, their ability to submit amendments and the procedure for discussing draft laws,” she said.

Representatives of the Ukraine2EU project shared the experience of the Western Balkan countries in preparing for EU accession. They highlighted the importance of a comprehensive approach — combining political will, a professional administrative apparatus, systematic communication, and the involvement of as broad a circle of stakeholders as possible, particularly civil society organizations. Civil society, they stressed, plays a critical role in drawing timely attention to problems and the need for their resolution. The Committee Chair expressed her conviction that the authorities should establish a permanent platform for interaction with civil society on European integration issues to ensure consistent engagement.

Ivanna Klympush-Tsintsadze also stressed that European integration must be accompanied by open and honest communication with society. Currently, she noted, public support for EU integration in Ukraine is largely emotional, so it is important to demonstrate its practical aspects and its irreversibility for the country. “We do not have a third path. Narratives suggesting that Ukraine might pursue some alternative path are very dangerous. Ukraine does not have a third path. Our path is together with the democratic, free world,” emphasized the Chair of the Committee on Ukraine’s Integration into the EU.

The participants agreed on further cooperation to strengthen Ukraine’s capacity on its way to EU membership.