Shmyhal boasts of success in European integration: what remains to be done on the way to the EU
31 December 15:19
Ukraine is promptly completing all the “homework” required on its way to joining the European Union. This was stated by the head of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine Denys Shmyhal at the final annual meeting of the government, Komersant ukrainskyi reports.
“Pre-accession negotiations on Ukraine’s membership in the European Union have begun. External screening of Ukrainian legislation for compliance with European law has started. The first negotiation cluster has already been completed,”
– the Prime Minister reported.
He added that the Ukrainian side has created an effective architecture for the negotiation process and prepared draft roadmaps envisaged by the Negotiating Framework.
“We are ready to quickly complete all the “homework” so that EU member states can make a political decision as soon as possible,”
– shmyhal noted.
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A brief history of Ukraine’s European integration
After gaining independence in 1991, Ukraine began to develop relations with the European Union. In 1994, a Partnership and Cooperation Agreement was signed, which entered into force in 1998.
In 2003, the EU offered Ukraine the Wider Europe Policy, which later evolved into the European Neighborhood Policy. It provided for closer ties, but without the prospect of membership.
In 2005, the EU-Ukraine Action Plan under the European Neighborhood Policy was adopted. This document defined specific steps to deepen Ukraine’s integration with the EU in various areas.
In 2007, negotiations began on a new and enhanced agreement, which later became the Association Agreement. These negotiations lasted for several years.
In 2009, the EU’s Eastern Partnership initiative was launched to deepen relations with six countries, including Ukraine. This was an important step on the way to signing the Association Agreement and obtaining a visa-free regime.
In November 2013, the government’s decision to suspend preparations for the signing of the Association Agreement led to mass protests known as Euromaidan. As a result of these events, the Agreement was signed in 2014. After the signing of the Agreement, Ukraine began the process of its implementation, which included reforms in various areas to bring it closer to EU standards.
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In June 2022, against the backdrop of a full-scale Russian invasion, Ukraine was granted candidate status for EU membership.
on December 14, 2023, at a summit in Brussels, the leaders of the European Union member states approved the start of negotiations on Ukraine’s accession to the EU.
on March 12, the European Commission officially presented the negotiation framework for Ukraine’s accession to the EU. It sets out the guidelines and framework for accession negotiations with each candidate country.
on October 30, 2024, the European Commission announced that Ukraine had completed all the preliminary necessary steps and the EU was ready to open the first negotiation cluster in 2025.
What remains to be done
According to the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine, Ukraine has the following steps to go on its way to EU membership:
- Ukraine and the EU negotiate Ukraine’s accession to the EU until all negotiating clusters are closed;
- The European Commission presents its opinion on Ukraine’s readiness to join the EU;
- the EU member states and the European Parliament unanimously decide to sign the Accession Agreement with Ukraine;
- The European Parliament and the national parliaments of all EU member states and Ukraine ratify the EU-Ukraine Accession Agreement.
