Following the meeting of the European Commission's college, President Volodymyr Zelensky held a meeting with the Ambassador of the European Union in Ukraine, Katarina Materova.
During the meeting in Kyiv, Katarina Materova handed over to the Head of State the approved report of the European Commission on Ukraine's progress within the enlargement package in 2023. This marks the first time that the European Commission has assessed reforms in Ukraine both as a candidate country within the EU enlargement package.
The head of state expressed his gratitude for the European Commission's decision to recommend that EU member states commence negotiations on Ukraine's accession to the EU.
"For us, this is a great motivation, a significant step forward in our European integration. We are very grateful to the European Commission, President Ursula von der Leyen, and her team for this important milestone and positive recommendations," said Volodymyr Zelensky.
"I want to emphasize that we share common values with all Europeans, European countries. We fight for these values. And this conclusion by the European Commission is one of the very important stages of our future victory. We are grateful to all the leaders who support us. We believe that we will continue this success in December," the President added.
On her part, Katarina Materova acknowledged the extensive work done to be able to say that the European Commission recommends commencing negotiations on Ukraine's accession to the EU.
"As you mentioned, you are implementing reforms primarily for yourselves, and it's a long process that is still ongoing, but this step has already been taken. There will be other steps, but at this moment, I am personally very pleased to be able to hand over this report to you," said the EU Ambassador.
The President of Ukraine welcomed the European Commission's readiness to begin preparatory work for negotiations with Ukraine, including the official assessment of the implementation of EU law (acquis communautaire) into Ukrainian legislation (the "screening" process). It was emphasized that Ukraine is also initiating preparations for the negotiation process with the EU while concurrently strengthening and enhancing its institutional capacity for successful negotiations.
In order to ensure the prompt execution of the remaining recommendations of the European Commission for a positive decision by the EU leaders in December 2023, President Volodymyr Zelensky today signed a decree titled "On certain measures to prepare for the negotiation process of Ukraine's accession to the European Union."
The document is intended to ensure the implementation of the strategic course toward Ukraine's full membership in the European Union, create conditions for effective political interaction, and improve the coordination of state bodies' activities for the swift initiation of the negotiation process for Ukraine's accession to the EU.
According to the decree, the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine is tasked with initiating consultations with the European Commission to determine the organizational aspects of the negotiation process for Ukraine's EU accession. They are also responsible for preparing and submitting to the Verkhovna Rada a draft law for the approval of a new National Program for the adaptation of Ukrainian legislation to EU law (acquis communautaire) taking into account the results of the EU's official assessment ("screening") of the implementation of EU law (acquis communautaire) into Ukraine's national legislation, and other related actions.
