On Tuesday, June 24, 2025, in Brussels, Belgium, a four-day bilateral meeting between delegations of Ukraine and the European Commission began within the framework of the official screening of Ukraine's legislation for compliance with EU law under Chapter 14 "Transport Policy" and Chapter 21 "Trans-European Networks" (TEN-T). The meeting covers key sectors of the transport sphere: road, rail, air, maritime transport, as well as safety, digitalization, infrastructure management, passenger rights, and Ukraine’s integration into the TEN-T network.
Ukraine's progress is presented by First Deputy Minister for Communities and Territories Development of Ukraine Aliona Shkrum; Deputy Ministers Serhii Derkach, Andrii Kashuba, and Oleksii Balesta; Head of the State Aviation Administration of Ukraine Oleksandr Bilchuk; Deputy Head of the State Agency for Restoration and Infrastructure Development of Ukraine for Digital Development Roman Komendant; First Deputy Chief of the Patrol Police Department Oleksii Biloshytskyi; Head of the Air Navigation Department of the State Aviation Administration Alina Zadorozhnia; as well as representatives of the Ministry of Economy, the State Aviation Administration, the National Bureau for Transport Safety Investigations, among others.
During the meeting, Ukrainian representatives emphasized that transport law is one of the most complex within EU legislation, requiring significant regulatory harmonization in the railway, road, aviation, and maritime sectors, as well as the creation of strong institutions and infrastructure. In this context, Ukraine is demonstrating determination to move forward despite the serious challenges posed by the war.
Several key draft laws have already been registered in the Ukrainian Parliament regarding the operation of the railway transport market, inland waterway navigation, regulation of the transport of dangerous goods, introduction of vehicle technical inspections, and regulation in the field of driver’s licenses.
Ukrainian representatives stressed that integration into the core and extended TEN-T networks is not only a technical priority but also a geopolitical necessity for Ukraine. It will unlock Ukraine's logistics potential as a key EU transit corridor. Ukraine aims for deeper involvement in European transport initiatives such as the Connecting Europe Facility (CEF), technical working groups under the Transport Community Treaty (TCT), and activities of the European Union Agency for Railways (ERA), European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), European Maritime Safety Agency (EMSA), European Network of Civil Aviation Safety Investigation Authorities (ENCASIA), and TEN-T. Ukraine hopes for the European Commission’s support in granting observer or pilot participation status on these platforms as part of the policy of gradual and accelerated integration.
Ukraine also highlighted the importance of establishing independent regulatory bodies, including a National Transport Regulatory Commission, a Railway Safety Agency, and an independent body for investigating transport incidents—essential for ensuring transparency, competition, and safety in the sector.
In the aviation sphere, special attention was given to certifying Ukrainian aviation products according to EASA standards. The Ukrainian side proposed creating a joint working group to develop a roadmap for aligning the aviation industry with EU Regulation No. 2018/1139, taking into account the specific features of the Ukrainian market and the need for transitional periods.
The meetings, which will continue until June 27, are expected to define Ukraine’s next steps toward achieving full legislative alignment with the EU in Chapters 14 and 21. This is another important milestone on Ukraine’s path to its strategic goal—EU membership.
Background
Chapters 14 “Transport Policy” and 21 “Trans-European Networks” fall under Cluster 4 “Green Agenda and Sustainable Connectivity.” The legislation in these chapters envisions creating a single, efficient transport space through the development of TEN-T infrastructure corridors, particularly under the Connecting Europe Facility (CEF) programme.
