We bring to your attention the key messages of Olga Stefanishyna Deputy Prime Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration and Minister of Justice of Ukraine during the 3rd EU Accession Exchange Forum:
- Today it is very important for me to see an active civil society, which has been and remains the main driver of the transformation of our country. It was you who helped Ukraine become a state that, in fact, revived the policy of enlargement as a priority of the European Union;
- The negotiation process is in full swing, and I am convinced that Ukraine itself is its main driver. I am proud that our country not only survived and remained fully functional and effective from the beginning of a full-scale war, but also redoubled its efforts in carrying out reforms. There is only one question: how do we fulfill the reform agenda to make the country as prepared as possible for victory and post-war reconstruction, as well as for membership in the EU and NATO. This gives energy to be a key driver of enlargement, which for its part is the source of the European Union’s geopolitical power.
- In the beginning of every accession meeting or negotiations we get two questions whether we accept the scope proposed for implementation and second question is that whether we require accelerated integration. So our process moves in a way that we do these things in parallel;
- The real challenge for Ukraine on its way to EU is the ongoing war and our efforts are to bring victory closer in timelines to our country.
The exchange was kindly moderated by Rikard Jozwiak, Europe Editor, Radioo Free Europe / Radio Liberty in Pargue.
Video recording of the Forum is available here.
PHOTO report of the Forum is 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 European Council on Foreign Relations, the Institute for European Policies and Reforms, the Center for Liberal Modernity and the European Pravda. The EU Accession Exchange Forum is taking place with EU support, within the EU-funded “European Renaissance of Ukraine” project implemented by the International Renaissance Foundation.