A delegation of COSAC — the Conference of Parliamentary Committees for Union Affairs of Parliaments of the European Union — has arrived in Ukraine at the invitation of the Chair of the Verkhovna Rada Committee on Ukraine’s Integration into the EU. “For the second time in COSAC’s history, colleagues are travelling outside the European Union as such a delegation, and for the second time, it is to Ukraine at my invitation,” said Ivanna Klympush-Tsintsadze.

The delegation is headed by Christian Friis Bach, Chair of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Danish Parliament. Denmark currently holds the Presidency of the Council of the EU. The delegation also includes the Chair of the Committee from Cyprus, which will take over the six-month Presidency of the Council of the EU in January 2026, followed by Ireland in the second half of the year. The Vice-Chair of the Irish Senate has also come to Ukraine, along with the Chairs of Committees from Finland, Sweden, Latvia, and Luxembourg. Lithuania is represented by the Deputy Chair of its Committee.

“I greatly appreciate that Esteban González Pons, Vice-President of the European Parliament responsible for relations with national parliaments, has found time to join this delegation. Our partners came with a clear message of support for Ukraine and a genuine desire to gain a deeper understanding of what is happening here, so that they can provide clear and convincing arguments in their societies and on international platforms in favour of Ukraine’s European integration, as well as its military, financial, and political support,” said Ivanna Klympush-Tsintsadze.

The Chair of the Committee on Ukraine’s Integration into the EU noted that this visit is also important for supporting Ukraine’s European integration path. “I am very pleased that the head of the delegation, representing Denmark’s Presidency of the EU, has reaffirmed at all meetings today that for Denmark, the enlargement process has been a critically important element of every presidency for decades. That is why they continue to prioritise achieving the opening of the first negotiation cluster — ‘Fundamentals’ — for Ukraine, despite the veto that Hungary, unfortunately, continues to actively use,” said Ivanna Klympush-Tsintsadze.

According to her, one of the key topics raised at all meetings is the state of reforms in Ukraine. “They have been asking what exactly happened in July regarding the loss of independence of the NABU and SAPO — our anti-corruption institutions. They want to know whether lessons have been learned and safeguards created to prevent similar developments in the future. Questions were also raised about media freedom in Ukraine and pressure on local self-government. But of course, security, the war, and military assistance remain central themes throughout all our meetings,” she added.

She also emphasized the importance of the fact that several European colleagues — influential figures in their countries and national parliaments, including those responsible for maintaining support for Ukraine — have made their first visit to Ukraine. “They have already confirmed that this trip has been valuable, as it allowed them, through direct experience and conversations with representatives of government, local authorities, and civil society, to gain a deeper understanding and find answers to many of their questions,” said the Chair of the Committee on Ukraine’s Integration into the EU.