President Zelenskyy noted the first intergovernmental conference between Ukraine and the EU
The first intergovernmental conference between Ukraine and the EU was held, attended by representatives of the Verkhovna Rada, the Cabinet of Ministers and the Office of the President of Ukraine. President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy stressed that this was a day for which everyone had worked hard.
He announced this in an address on the start of negotiations on Ukraine’s accession to the EU. The corresponding video was published by the Office of the President.
Today is the day for which we all worked long and very persistently - the entire Ukrainian team. Today is the official, actual, real opening of negotiations on Ukraine’s accession to the European Union. And our Ukrainian delegation - representatives of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, the government, the Office - has already held the first intergovernmental conference of Ukraine and the European Union. And until today, we were a state that received the status of a candidate for accession, but we could not yet be completely sure whether we would realize this status. And from now on, this is definitely a certainty - Ukraine will certainly be a full member of the European Union,” he said.
Zelenskyy stressed that this event is an important step towards Ukraine’s full membership in the European Union. Now all that remains is to focus on technical issues, the adaptation of the Ukrainian system to EU standards and the political will of Europe to complete this process.
“This is only possible with Ukraine as part of a united Europe - a Europe of values, a Europe without splits, ideological walls and “gray zones”, a Europe of peace - real peace. I thank everyone who supports Ukraine on this path, who helps and who fights for Ukraine ", said the president.
He added that Ukraine’s application to join the European Union was submitted on February 28, 2022, the fifth day after the start of the full-scale Russian invasion. In June of the same year, the European Council granted Ukraine candidate status, and in December last year the EU decided to begin negotiations.
“Between these steps there are thousands of meetings and calls. Conditions that Ukraine has fully complied with. Laws that have been adopted and put into effect. And the most important thing is the determination of our people, our people,” Zelenskyy concluded.
For his part, Prime Minister of Ukraine Denys Shmyhal noted that the intergovernmental conferences that began today provide for work between our country and representatives of all EU states on parts of the future treaty on Ukraine’s accession.
“According to the approved negotiation framework, we will go through all sections of our relations and must come to an agreement on each. We will definitely achieve this, as well as all our other Ukrainian goals,” he added.
In addition, the head of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine Ruslan Stefanchuk added that every state that became a member of the EU went through a similar format of negotiations. Ukraine will try to do this faster than others, but in the common interests of our state and all of Europe.
“We have adopted, are accepting and will continue to adopt all the necessary laws so that Ukraine will never break away from the European home. Thanks to everyone who is with Ukraine, everyone who believes in our people, who works with Ukraine and thus provides the whole of Europe with a stable and secure the future is free from aggression,” he said.
25 June 2024 г., 19:12
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