Oleksandr Korniienko, the First Deputy Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, met with Hallvard Gorseth, the Head of the Department for Combating Discrimination of the Directorate-General for Democracy and Human Dignity of the Council of Europe, during the meeting the parties discussed cooperation in the field of human rights protection, improvement of anti-discrimination legislation of Ukraine and its harmonization with European standards within the scope of the Eurointegration process..
Oleksandr Korniienko thanked the Council of Europe for its consistent support for Ukraine. He stressed the importance of harmonizing national legislation with EU and Council of Europe norms, particularly in ethnic minority rights, gender equality and protection of vulnerable groups, which is an integral part of Ukraine's EU integration process.
"Ukraine remains committed to implementing European standards of equality and non-discrimination, as these are fundamental principles of our democratic development and European integration. We have already taken significant steps by adopting the law on ethnic minorities, such as the Crimean Tatars, and we continue to work on enhancing legislation in line with European law," highlighted Oleksandr Korniienko.
In turn, Hallvard Gorseth noted the European integration processes of Ukraine, remarking that there is still lots of work ahead and that the path onwards will be thorny. "Through this dedication to the rule of law and European obligations, Ukraine can demonstrate its commitment to Europe and the EU accession process. This is a crucial decision on the path to European integration," emphasized Gorseth.
For his part, Hallvard Gorseth noted Ukraine's efforts in European integration, pointing out that there is still a lot of work to be done and that the upcoming road will be bumpy. "Through this commitment to the rule of law and European commitments, Ukraine can demonstrate its dedication not only to Europe, but also to the EU accession process itself. This is an important decision on the path to European integration,’ " emphasized Gorseth.
Oleksandr Korniienko emphasized that Ukraine seeks to expand cooperation with the Anti-Discrimination Department of the Council of Europe and other profile bodies, in particular through joint projects and reforms. "Despite the challenges of war, we must not retreat from democratic principles and human rights – on the contrary, they must be even more protected. The European integration of Ukraine is not only about legislation but also about real changes that will ensure equality and protection of the rights of every citizen," added the First Vice-Speaker.
The meeting was also attended by Ukrainian MPs: Mykyta Poturaiev, Chairman of the Committee on Humanitarian and Information Policy, Tamila Tasheva, Olena Shulyak, Inna Sovsun, and Deputy Chairman of the Committee on Human Rights Nelli Yakovlieva.