The EU is preparing for a new stage of negotiations: screening of Ukrainian legislation is completed
30 September 01:25
The process of verifying Ukrainian legislation for compliance with EU standards is entering its final stage. This was announced by European Commissioner for Enlargement Martha Kos during a visit to Zakarpattia, "Komersant Ukrainian" reports citing Ukrinform.
“Today we have completed the process of screening the legislation of Ukraine,” Kos said.
According to Kos, in less than a year, experts have processed more than 100,000 pages of Ukrainian laws. The European Commission hopes to start negotiations on the first cluster of reforms soon.
“I very much hope that we will soon get the green light from the Ukrainian side to open negotiations on the first cluster,” said Kos.
The results of the screening are scheduled to be discussed at a meeting in Kyiv on October 1.
What does the completion of the screening mean?
Screening is a detailed check of national legislation for compliance with EU norms and standards. All candidate countries have to undergo it before starting negotiations on joining the EU.
According to the European Commission, Ukraine has completed this part of the work in record time, which indicates a high level of readiness for integration.
Next steps
The visit of Kos lasts from September 29 to October 1. During this time, the European Commissioner will meet with the country’s leadership to assess Ukraine’s progress on the path to the EU and reaffirm the EU’s support for Ukraine’s European future. Particular attention will be paid to the rule of law and the fight against corruption, as well as key reforms that must precede the start of formal accession negotiations.
In addition to meetings with representatives of the government and parliament, Kos will discuss with Ukrainian anti-corruption bodies the importance of implementing reforms for EU integration. European Commission spokesperson Guillaume Mercier said that the screening should be completed by September 30 and emphasized that the work is proceeding at a record pace.
Ukraine demonstrates real progress
Viktor Mykyta, Deputy Head of the Presidential Office, noted on Telegram the effectiveness of the reforms and the real implementation of European standards at all levels, from government agencies to local governments.
He added that Ukraine has implemented a significant part of measures in the field of transport, logistics, and interregional cooperation, which also confirms the country’s readiness to open the first cluster of negotiations with the EU.
