Committee Members Met With Vsevolod Chentsov
23 July 2026, 15:17
A special meeting of the Committee on Ukraine's Integration into the EU was held with the participation of the newly appointed Vice Prime Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration of Ukraine, Vsevolod Chentsov.
The discussion focused on the current state of the negotiation process for Ukraine’s accession to the European Union, the identification of priority areas for cooperation among the Government, the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, and the Committee, as well as the coordination of further joint steps needed for the timely fulfillment of Ukraine’s European integration commitments. Chairs of European integration subcommittees from relevant Parliamentary committees also attended the meeting.
The Chair of the Committee on Ukraine's Integration into the EU, Ivanna Klympush-Tsyntsadze, congratulated Vsevolod Chentsov on his appointment and expressed hope for fruitful government-parliamentary cooperation on European integration. Above all, in her view, particular attention should be paid to the commitments included in the European Commission's interim benchmarks for Cluster 1, "Fundamentals." “I am concerned, for instance, about the selection process for the Head of the SBI. His term of office expires on December 31, but we would not want this selection process to be conducted under the old rules,” said Ivanna Klympush-Tsyntsadze. She highlighted that the state still lacks an approved anti-corruption strategy and called for the reinstatement of competitive selection procedures for prosecutorial positions. “From my own experience, I know that our partners pay very close attention to the implementation of these matters,” she stressed.
First Deputy Chair of the Committee, Vadym Halaichuk, inquired about the official’s “fresh perspective” on how best to fine-tune operations on the path toward the EU. Specifically, he suggested analyzing the need for a dedicated ministry, as well as strengthening the teams and departments already handling European integration within existing ministries. “After all, the speed of our movement toward the European Union depends on how seamlessly the government apparatus functions,” Vadym Halaichuk emphasized.
Committee Secretary Valentyn Nalyvaichenko raised the issue of enhancing the coordinating and managerial role of the Vice Prime Minister for European integration. He also expressed conviction that the regulatory framework governing state bodies in the sphere of European integration requires updating.
“The Government’s priorities remain unchanged: advancing the EU accession negotiation process, fulfilling interim benchmarks under Cluster 1, ‘Fundamentals of the Accession Process,’ adapting legislation, and implementing commitments under the Ukraine Facility. We are committed to the closest possible coordination with the Verkhovna Rada and strive to consult proactively with relevant committees and the European Commission, as well as share its findings with MPs,” stressed Vice Prime Minister Vsevolod Chentsov.
The Committee hopes for continued cooperation regarding the implementation and update of the Integrated Border Management Strategy. Additionally, the People's Deputies raised the issues of strengthening the Committee’s institutional capacity, as well as enhancing the coordinating and managerial role of the Vice Prime Minister for European integration. “We hope that you will join us in lobbying for the reinforcement of the coordination mechanism and the institutional capacity of the state system for European integration,” said Ivanna Klympush-Tsyntsadze.