On July 8, official screening of Ukrainian legislation for compliance with European Union law in the energy sector began in Brussels.
The Ukrainian delegation is led by Deputy Prime Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration and Minister of Justice Olha Stefanishyna, and includes Deputy Ministers of Energy Roman Andarak and Mykola Kolisnyk.
During the event, representatives of Ukrainian government bodies and energy companies presented the current state of implementation of EU legal acts in areas such as energy efficiency, the gas market, security of supply, renewable energy, and trans-European energy networks.
The screening is a key stage in the negotiation process for Ukraine’s accession to the EU and will shape the next steps for implementing the EU acquis under Chapter 15 "Energy" and Chapter 21 "Trans-European Networks".
The Ukrainian side outlined key challenges in the implementation process and highlighted areas where EU support is needed.
European Commission representatives emphasized that energy is one of the most important negotiation chapters, as it involves market liberalization and energy security. They also commended Ukraine’s progress in gas and electricity markets, market design, and institutional capacity building, thanks to long-standing EU support.
Deputy Minister Roman Andarak noted the symbolic significance of the registration of two key draft laws in Ukraine’s Parliament on the eve of the official screening:
- “On Amendments to Certain Laws of Ukraine Regarding the Implementation of European Law Norms for the Integration of Energy Markets, Improving Security of Supply, and Competitiveness in the Energy Sector,” and
- “On Infrastructure Projects in the Energy Sector of Public Interest.”
“We have already submitted the draft law on energy market integration to the EU for assessment of its compliance with European legislation and expect that a positive conclusion will support its adoption by the Verkhovna Rada. Joint development of our energy markets according to EU legislation and the principle of solidarity has already proven effective in strengthening resilience to external threats,” Andarak said.
He added that during bilateral talks with the EU, Ukraine is negotiating potential areas for accelerated integration.
Deputy Minister Mykola Kolisnyk highlighted the potential for cooperation in biomethane development, noting that early 2025 marked Ukraine’s first biomethane export to the EU, signaling strong market interest.
“To accelerate integration, we aim to initiate the connection of Ukraine’s Gas Transmission System Operator to the EU Union Database, which would ensure greater transparency and proper verification of biomethane injection data,” Kolisnyk stated.
Among other proposals from Ukraine:
- Strengthening cooperation between Ukraine’s national energy regulator and the EU Agency for the Cooperation of Energy Regulators (ACER),
- Granting Ukraine observer status in EU bodies involved in energy legislation development.
