EU enlargement commissioner arrives in Ukraine for key accession talks
Marta Kos, EU Commissioner (photo: facebook.com/Martakosmarko)
EU Commissioner for Enlargement Marta Kos is in Ukraine for a two-day visit, with a series of meetings planned with Ukrainian officials and other stakeholders, the European Commission's press service reported.
Kos will remain in Ukraine until December 11 inclusive. She plans to discuss Ukraine's EU accession with the bloc's member states at an informal meeting of ministers in Lviv. The agenda also includes discussions on reforms in Ukraine, particularly regarding the rule of law, as well as efforts to rebuild the country.
On the morning of December 10, the Commissioner visited one of Ukraine's thermal power plants together with Deputy Minister of Energy of Ukraine for European Integration, Olha Yukhymchuk. Russia has repeatedly attacked the plant and is being restored with support from the Ukraine Energy Support Fund.
In the afternoon, Kos, together with Deputy Prime Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration Taras Kachka and Deputy Speaker of the Ukrainian Parliament Oleksandr Korniyenko, will meet with representatives of Ukrainian civil society to discuss EU enlargement policy and the role of civic actors in supporting reforms.
After that, the Commissioner will hold a separate meeting with Kachka dedicated to the reforms required for EU accession.
Tomorrow, December 11, Kos will take part in a ceremony honoring fallen defenders and will then give a press comment at around 10:00. She will later participate in the informal General Affairs Council in Lviv together with Deputy Prime Minister Kachka and Denmark's Minister for European Affairs Marie Bjerre. The meeting will address the progress of Ukraine's EU accession negotiations.
A joint press conference with Deputy Prime Minister Kachka and Minister Bjerre is scheduled for around 14:00.
Ukraine's EU accession
Earlier, European Commission representative Guillaume Mercier stated that no exact date has been set yet for Ukraine's entry into the European Union.
However, according to him, the Ukrainian government aims to complete accession negotiations by the end of 2028.
