Challenges in economic integration, strengthening democratic institutions, preparing for negotiations on Ukraine’s membership of the EU, and harmonising Ukrainian legislation with European standards were the key topics of the conference “What does Ukraine’s path to the EU look like?” organised by the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration of Ukraine, Olha Stefanishyna, with support from USAID.

“Ukraine’s recovery is a recovery through European integration. And the European Union is ready to help us rebuild and modernise our country on the path to European integration through its structural funds. Already, 85% of all recovery projects are financed through the mechanisms of international financial organisations, mostly restructured loans, which we direct to high priority projects. We focus our cooperation on projects that restore critical infrastructure, promote export potential, and return basic living conditions to Ukrainian communities,” said Oleksandr Kubrakov, Deputy Prime Minister for Restoration of Ukraine and Minister for Communities, Territories and Infrastructure Development.

In particular, Oleksandr Kubrakov highlighted several projects already implemented jointly with the European Union.

Extension of the EU-Ukraine agreement on the carriage of freight by road until 30 June 2024. This allows Ukrainian carriers to operate on the European route without permits, which in turn facilitates the work of exporters.

Thanks to the Solidarity Lanes transport project, tens of millions of agricultural products have been exported by land. Within the framework of cooperation through the CEF mechanism, more than EUR 1 billion has been mobilised for the further development of border infrastructure and the development of Danube ports.

Together with our European partners, we are working to include the Ukrainian part of the Danube in the maps of the Trans-European Transport Network (TEN-T). The Danube – Black Sea shipping route helps ship-owners obtain information for safe navigation and increases competitiveness.

In the context of Russia’s blockade of Ukrainian Black Sea ports, Ukraine is developing road border infrastructure with Poland, Romania, and Slovakia. For the first time in 17 years, the railway route to Romania has been reopened, and two more railway sections to Poland have been restored.

The Ministry is also actively adapting domestic legislation to European requirements. Currently, 11 priority draft laws in the field of European integration are awaiting consideration by the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine.