Ukraine expects to pave the way of EU accession negotiations in less than 2 years
Ukraine is completing the implementation of seven recommendations of the European Commission, which will allow us to launch the next steps for integration. This was stated by Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal during a Government meeting on January 13.
“We also have to analyze the compliance of our legislation with the EU legislation to clearly understand the scope of work to be done. In parallel with the conformity assessment, adoption and enactment of European legislation, we will prepare for direct negotiations on the accession process,” Denys Shmyhal told.
According to Denys Shmyhal, Ukraine's negotiating position will be formulated, identifying our strengths, the limits of compromise, how accession to the EU will affect individual sectors of the economy and the state as a whole. Teams of negotiators from the Ukrainian side will be formed, who will be able to professionally discuss details in various areas. This will be the basis for the opening of official accession negotiations, explained the Prime Minister.
“Then we have to go through the negotiations, which should culminate in the signing of the Agreement on Ukraine's accession to the EU. We expect to pass this way in less than 2 years. And then Ukraine will become a full member of the EU. All barriers to trade, restrictions on the movement of workforce will be finally abolished, Ukraine will have access to the EU structural and investment funds,” noted the Head of Government.
The amount of work is enormous, Denys Shmyhal accentuated. However, our European partners are willing to cooperate productively in the issue of integration, he added.
“A vivid evidence of this will be the visit of President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen in the coming weeks. We expect that more than 10 European Commissioners will come to Ukraine together with Mrs. Ursula von der Leyen to hold intergovernmental consultations. This will become not only an important signal of further support for Ukraine in the war, but will also demonstrate the openness of the EU to the negotiation process on Ukraine's accession,” summed up the Prime Minister.