In Brussels an individual meeting was held between members of the Committee on Economic Development and The Chairman of the Committee on International Trade of the European Parliament (INTA) Brendon Lange. Despite the dense schedule and inability to be present at the joint INTA meeting - Mr. Lange expressed his readiness for personal dialogue, which was an important continuation of the Ukrainian parliamentary mission to Brussels.
During the constructive dialogue we have stressed once again on the urgency of revising the current trade framework between Ukraine and the EU. Both parties agreed that the moment of active cooperation with the European Commission has already started, with the aim of starting the negotiation process about a new Agreement on Free Trade. One that will meet the new realities, support the Ukrainian economy in times of war and open new horizons for business cooperation.
The Chairman of the Committee Dmytro Natalukha emphasized that a political pressure from the European Parliament on the European Commission needs to intensify.
He also thanked Mr Lange for the clear and principled position he expressed together with INTA's Permanent Rapporteur on Ukraine, MEP Karin Karlsbrueck, in an official letter to European Commissioner for Trade and Economic Security Maroš Šefčovič. In this letter, dated 15 May 2025, they state that ‘one year after the adoption of autonomous trade measures and despite the fact that they are nearing completion, consultations with Ukraine on the DCFTA review have not yet been initiated’ and call on the Commission ‘to start consultations with Ukraine without further delay’.
In response to this constructive initiative, Dmytro Natalukha stressed the readiness of the Ukrainian side to actively participate in the formation of a new, fair and mutually beneficial trade framework that will meet the interests of both sides and reflect the economic realities of wartime.
«We are already hearing from some European colleagues that Europe needs Ukraine, and this is a good, encouraging signal. At the same time, there is still a lot of work to be done with those who are still hesitant or sceptical. That is why it is now important not only to maintain the momentum, but also to actively put pressure on key European institutions and consistently defend Ukraine's interests.»
