On 22 July 2024, a public discussion was held in Kyiv on the occasion of the arrival of high-level European integration advisers. The discussion was dedicated to the European integration path of our country and was entitled ‘Ukraine's accession process to the EU: how to move effectively and quickly’. The discussion focused on the role of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine in the negotiation process and the effective implementation of European legislation.
In his speech, Oleksandr Korniienko, the First Deputy Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, stressed that the Ukrainian Parliament has demonstrated that European integration is a sustainable process that has been taking place for more than one convocation of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine. “At the same time, the path to the EU is the choice of Ukrainians who have been fighting for democratic values for ten years,” he said.
First of all, Oleksandr Korniienko emphasised, the Ukrainian Parliament has restructured its work over the past two years and introduced various technical elements that allowed for faster adoption of European integration decisions. “Now that we are moving towards the EU acquis, we will continue to work closely with the distinction and verification of draft laws, as well as plan work with the Government,” the First Vice Speaker stressed.
In addition, according to Oleksandr Korniienko, the Ukraine Facility is a unique feature of Ukraine's path to the European Union, which will definitely help us in the European integration process. The First Vice Speaker also emphasised the need to communicate with society about potential reforms, to communicate with Ukrainians about what actually awaits all of us as EU members, and to pay special attention to the formation of conscious, proactive youth who are not afraid to adopt European values and work to implement and preserve them in their own country.
“It is necessary to explain to our people all the possible benefits and challenges of European integration, to debunk any myths about this issue. In our dialogue with citizens, we should focus on young people, who will build Ukraine with European values,” said Oleksandr Korniiienko.
In conclusion, Oleksandr Korniienko expressed his belief that the first working visit of international advisers to Kyiv is only the beginning of a long-term cooperation aimed at achieving a common goal – Ukraine's membership in the European Union.
For her part, Olha Stefanishyna, the Vice Prime Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration of Ukraine, expressed her gratitude to the Nordic-Baltic Group for initiating the meeting. “We are pleased to welcome you to Kyiv for the first time. Now that the process of Ukraine's accession to the EU has formally begun, we face a new challenge - to move forward at a high pace. Today we have discussed the architecture of the negotiation process and our expectations from each stage. There are 2 days ahead, full of meetings with ministries, parliamentarians and civil society, and I am sure they will help you to understand all the processes more deeply,’ she said.
The public discussion is organised by the Office of the Vice Prime Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration of Ukraine with the support of the Nordic-Baltic Cooperation (NB8) and in cooperation with BRAND UKRAINE. The event was aimed at promoting a comprehensive dialogue on reforming and harmonising Ukrainian legislation in line with European requirements, as well as establishing stable channels of communication and cooperation with foreign partners.
The discussion was attended by high-level international advisers, members of Ukraine's official delegation to the EU negotiations, representatives of ministries, the Parliament, civil society and the media.