We bring to your attention the key messages by Ihor Zhovkva, Deputy Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine during the 2nd EU Accession Exchange Forum:

• We are thinking about the perspectives and will be watching the process of internal transformation in the EU but there’s one important thing. If these possible transformations start will not they affect the pace and the tempo of Ukraine’s entry to the EU? There is a trap where Ukraine can find itself in. If the process of reforming the institutions in the EU starts, the process of entering the new countries including Ukraine, can be again postponed.
• We do really feel and understand now that we have all the rights to be on the next stage which is accession negotiations.
• What is very important, I am sure that Ukraine will have a strong voice. It’s understandable in each and every capital of the member states of European Union that you cannot discuss anything, as far as the future of the EU is concerned, without the voice of Ukraine. They are already counting us in. Not de jure unfortunately, but certainly de facto.

Video recording of the Forum is available here.

The EU Accession Exchange Forum is organized by the New Europe Center in partnership with the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister of European and Euro-Atlantic Integration of Ukraine, the International Renaissance Foundation, the Institute for European Policies and Reforms, the Soros Foundation in Georgia and the Center for Liberal Modernity, Germany. European Pravda became Forum media partner. The Accession Exchange Forum is taking place with EU support, within the EU-funded “European Renaissance of Ukraine” project implemented by the International Renaissance Foundation.