As part of the official visit to Brussels, the Committee on Economic Development engaged in a substantive and comprehensive discussion with Gert Jan Koopman, Director-General of the European Commission for Neighbourhood and Enlargement (DG NEAR).
The primary focus was placed on Ukraine’s future economic integration into the European Union — specifically in the context of harmonizing regulations on public-private partnerships and public procurement. The discussion addressed progress made in aligning this and other Ukrainian legislation with EU norms and standards, the outcomes of reforms already enacted, as well as the challenges that continue to impede the European integration process.
Particular attention was given to Ukraine’s relations with its immediate neighbors — notably Hungary and Slovakia, with Poland also discussed. We examined their influence on the overall progress of Ukraine’s membership negotiations and underscored the importance of maintaining constructive dialogue within the EU regarding Ukraine’s European integration prospects.
The Chairman of the Committee, Dmytro Natalukha, emphasized the critical importance of all EU members adhering to unified rules. The Ukrainian delegation drew particular attention to the inadmissibility of unilateral decisions by individual countries that unfairly violate the principles and provisions of the Single Market by manipulating information and emotions, and politicizing Ukraine’s European integration for domestic purposes. We called for the preservation of unity, mutual respect, and fair rules for all parties, as envisioned by the spirit and purpose of the European community.
The Committee expresses its gratitude to Mr. Koopman and the entire DG NEAR team for their attentive approach to Ukraine’s challenges and systematic support in Ukraine’s aspiration to become a full member of the European community, as well as for their profound understanding of our needs during this critical period.