Accession Conference with Ukraine - International ministerial meetings
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Council of the European Union European Council
Follow its sittingsVsevolod CHENTSOV
I also want to thank the European Commission for its close cooperation with Ukraine throughout this process, and every EU member state for supporting today's decision. Clusters 2 and 3 represent the economic core of Ukraine's accession process and, in many ways, the economic core of our country's transformation.
Together, they cover 17 negotiating chapters that touch upon virtually every aspect of how our economy functions, from the conditions in which businesses operate and compete to investment, industrial development, innovation, and the opportunities available to our citizens. Progress under these clusters will be instrumental in building a modern, competitive, and resilient Ukrainian economy increasingly integrated into the European single market. This is why we attach particular importance to the European Commission's recent proposals to make gradual integration into EU policies and strategic sectors more ambitious and predictable. For Ukraine, this means advancing sectoral integration, strengthening industrial cooperation, expanding access to relevant EU initiatives, and creating greater opportunities for Ukrainian businesses to participate in European value chains. The more we integrate our economies during the accession process, the better prepared Ukraine will be for membership and the stronger our contribution to the single market will become.
Ladies and gentlemen, Ukraine is fully committed to the reforms required for membership and intend to move through this work as quickly as possible. Undoubtedly, the top priority for the government and the parliament is meeting the internal benchmarks for Cluster 1 and securing a positive Ibar.
We also look forward to the opening of the remaining two negotiating clusters. Today Europe is looking for ways to strengthen its competitiveness, strategic autonomy and economic security in an increasingly challenging global environment. Ukraine's integration should be seen as part of this wider European agenda. Our industrial and technological capacities, agricultural potential, human capital and experience in resilience can contribute to stronger Europe value chains, greater economic security and new opportunities for investment and innovation. We see significant potential for deepening cooperation in areas such as industry, energy, technology and the development of new European production capacities, including in the field of defense industry.
This is particularly important as we work to rebuild and transform Ukraine's economy while Russia continues its war of aggression against our country. Our ambition is not simply to restore what has been destroyed, but to build a more productive, innovative and competitive economy, and EU accession provides the strategic framework for this transformation.
Ukraine's accession is about much more than extending the boundaries of the European Union. It's about bringing our economies closer together, strengthening Europe's competitiveness, and building a more resilient European future. Today, we have taken another important step towards that objective. Thank you.
Marta Kos
Dear Deputy Prime Minister Chensov, dear Minister Byrne, let me start by expressing my deepest condolences, dear Sevlot, for the lives lost in the latest Russian attacks over the past weeks. Ukraine is facing extremely difficult situations after more than four years of war. Almost every night, Russia's relentless bombing take thousands of innocent lives, from bridges to science centers. Russia has shown that it is willing to destroy anything in its path. Yet, even now, Ukrainians continue to deliver on its EU path and transform their country.
There is no other country doing this mission impossible possible. That is why I'm very glad that today, thanks to your hard work and the strong support of our member states, we are opening two more negotiating clusters: internal market and competitiveness and inclusive growth.
Behind these technical names will be real benefits for Ukrainians. Reforms under the internal market cluster will make it easier for Ukrainian businesses to trade and grow across Europe. They mean fairer competition, safer products, and better protection for consumers. They will help create the conditions for more investments and jobs. Reforms under the competitiveness cluster will help you build a stronger economy, better education, more support for businesses, new technologies, and better working conditions.
And these are reforms that will help Ukraine rebuild its economy and improve people's lives. Opening two new clusters is good news, but as we have heard, we will not stop here. The next step is to open the two remaining negotiating clusters as soon as possible. I want to commend Ukraine for its determination and our member states for making today's progress possible. Russia will not stop us from bringing Ukraine into the European Union.
Today's progress is part of a much wider progress on enlargement. For the third time this year, we are holding four accession conferences together.
I commend you, dear Thomas, and your presidency for the immense energy you are putting in leading these processes. Our four frontrunners are making strong progress on reforms together. And with our member states, we are matching their efforts with concrete progress in the process. This is why we are getting ready for a larger Union. Last week, we presented our assessment of what a larger EU would mean and how we can prepare for it.
Our conclusion was that the EU is ready for enlargement. We know where we need to adapt, and we are putting forward concrete proposals to make sure a larger Union is also a stronger Union. Enlargement is moving forward, and Ukraine is among those leading the way towards full EU membership. And I will be very happy that tomorrow in my office, I will change on my enlargement wall 17 red magnets for 17 yellow magnets.
Speaker 1
Thank you, Commissioner. Okay, I'll now open it for questions, and first to the gentleman here, please. Thank you. The mic's just back there. And please state your name and media organization as well, please.
Thanks.
Sergiy Sydorenko
Sergiy Sydorenko, European Pravda, Ukraine. I would like to ask all participants about perspectives of opening clusters, remaining clusters. Do you see that an agreement or compromises is looming, which was discussed or at least provisionally announced about some derogations for Ukrainian agriculture? And regarding IBAR, it's rather for presidency and for the Commission. Do you see some timeframe when IBAR can be assessed both for Ukraine and for Moldova, given the progress we show?
Marta Kos
The chief negotiator and Deputy Prime Minister knows the best when the IBAR will be fulfilled. We are looking forward to see this because this is then the precondition to start closing the chapters.
Regarding the targeted arrangements for Ukraine agriculture, so Ukraine will become a part of the European agricultural policy in a very special scope or fashion. How exactly this will be discussed between the member states and of course Ukraine. It will be up to the member states to define the specifics during Ukraine's accession negotiations under cluster five. We in Europe, we want to protect our EU farmers and at the same time help Ukraine sell its products in its traditional markets. And saying this, we believe in Ukraine's European future and we want to make sure its membership brings the greatest possible benefits to both Ukraine and the European Union.
That's why these targeted arrangements, on one hand protecting European farmers, on the other hand helping Ukrainian agriculture to develop further, not just by aligning to our rules on the agricultural policy, but also being able to export your products to the people in Africa, Asia and in the Middle East.
Thomas Byrne
I mean, the Irish presidency's ambition is to open the remaining clusters. We're more than halfway through our presidency.
We've worked hard, as have, to be fair, the Ukrainians have worked really hard to get these clusters open. But we will work hard to work with the member states. I'm the servant of the member states, so we have to get unanimity in the room. We've achieved that now, very significantly, on the opening of most of the clusters. So let's continue the work, and I know my team is really dedicated to doing that.
They've shown tremendous grit in pushing through. It's not even pushing through, but the member states by and large are very strongly in favor of the enlargement of the European Union. The question is that in certain cases there are issues that member states raise that have to be addressed. I think my team has worked hard with the Ukrainians and the Commission to make sure any issues raised can be addressed and have been addressed. And that's the type of work that we'll continue, and that work has been extremely successful during our presidency so far.
Vsevolod CHENTSOV
First on next clusters, right? So from this moment on, we focused on opening of the remaining clusters, and we count on the merit-based approach on the side of the Union.
And we do not see any reasons, you know, not to do it by the end of this year. And we are looking forward to in-depth discussion with the European Commission and member states in the course of negotiations how to find smart solutions even in such specific areas like agriculture. On IBARs, indeed, this is a priority for us to move as fast as possible. We are working hard with the Commission, including during our presence here in Brussels and Luxembourg this week. So we will closely cooperate both with the Commission, Ukrainian Parliament, also expert community, how to find relevant, adequate solutions for sometimes complex issues, because we are talking about justice, rule of law, and law enforcement domain.
And for the country in war, it's a very specific area, so we need to find the right balance between, you know, progress in the reform, but also keeping system intact and stable and being able to fight against Russian aggression. Thank you.
Chris Powers
So it's Chris Powers, Kyiv Independent. I have a question for the Commissioner and a question for Minister Chentsov. So, Commissioner, for you, these two clusters opening, two and three, I'm wondering, do they represent anything geopolitically as well? We talked a lot more about economic security yesterday. We talked about security in an enlarged Union.
Speaker 9
In separate corridors, we talk about China, sometimes we don't name it, but we talk about it. Does this help with that at all, bringing Ukraine and Moldova in on these clusters? And more importantly, does it help me bring my customs fees down when I try and import stuff from Ukraine? Because this is very expensive. Minister Chentsov, today the parliament back in Kyiv, it passed on, it advanced three laws, but it didn't advance others.
Speaker 8
And one of them was the Single European Payments Area. It feels a bit like when it comes to the parliament, we're going round and round in circles. Every incentive is given for it to take action. There's billions of euros on the table. There's listed items how to do it, and it's still not moving very quickly.
Speaker 9
And I'm just wondering from your side, what's the plan to make it move faster and how will you reassure other Europeans that this parliament is actually serious about European integration?
Marta Kos
I really commend you for your perseverance being here from the 7:15 in the morning until now, dear Chris. A very good question. Indeed, clusters two and three are a lot about our European common market. And getting Ukraine stronger in many, many areas, we will enable our internal market to grow. And this is very important.
One of the most important competitive advantages of the European Union is our common market with high standards, but clear rules which enable investors to come and start the process which ends in the higher prosperity not just for the Ukrainians, but also for the citizens of the European Union. Four freedoms being part of this internal market, it's very important because it's not by coincidence that we call them freedoms.
This is the biggest place where we still respect the rules. And of course we also count in the cluster three competitiveness and inclusive growth. It is important that with the accession process we make sure that Ukraine will be able to have a growth which will enable not just economy to grow but the transformation also of the social system. Your question on the custom. So we welcome really already the significant progress already achieved by the side of Ukraine.
The priority is now the alignment of the legislative part and of course implementation of the required IT systems. So I hope Ukraine will be quick and then you will have less problems on the border or I don't know if you have problems.
Vsevolod CHENTSOV
On SEPA.
Look, it's very important legislation also in the in view of the opening of today's clusters. It's also about how to make transactions between Ukraine and the EU member states cheaper and faster, including for our citizens here under the protection, but definitely for Ukrainian businesses. And again, we need to look into the issue and to find solutions. If there are legitimate, say, concerns, questions of the members of the Parliament, we will try to find right answers. It's about banking secrecy, it's about personal data protection.
Speaker 1
Okay, I don't see any other hands up in the room or online, so we'll finish there. Thank you very much, everyone.
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