Vice Prime Minister on Ukraine's accession to EU: Negotiation process has begun
Photo: Vice Prime Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration of Ukraine, Olha Stefaniyshyna (Getty Images)
The process of negotiations for Ukraine's accession to the European Union has effectively begun, says the Vice Prime Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration of Ukraine, Olha Stefaniyshyna during a telethon broadcast of Ukraine.
"We had an almost three-hour meeting today with the teams, where we discussed issues in great detail. There are also many different deadlines and timeframes. Today, we practically started the negotiation process and its preparation," explained the Vice Prime Minister.
She clarified that in March, Ukraine expects another meeting at the leaders' level. Technical documents are being prepared before that.
"In terms of our expectations, I can say that this process (negotiations for EU accession - ed.) officially started today. Today, we initiated the screening process - a procedure that involves consultations on all sectors that will be subject to further negotiations," Stefaniyshyna noted.
According to the Vice Prime Minister, this step is essentially the main process after which Ukraine and the EU will form their negotiation positions.
"After this, negotiations will take place. Therefore, without this process we initiated today, starting negotiations would be impossible. It is important that we are now in it (the process)," she added.
Negotiations on Ukraine's accession to the EU
On November 8, 2023, the European Commission recommended to the European Council to start negotiations on Ukraine's accession to the European Union. Ursula von der Leyen, the President of the European Commission, noted that Kyiv had fulfilled 90% of the necessary reforms to start the negotiations.
At the end of winter, the European Commission may assess Ukraine's progress in implementing Euro-integration reforms necessary for EU membership. The commencement of negotiations regarding the country's future membership will depend on this assessment.
