Olha Stefanishyna and EU Commissioner Marta Kos Discuss Preparations for the Opening of the First Negotiating Clusters
Вступ України до ЄС
16.06.2025
On Monday, June 16, Deputy Prime Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration – Minister of Justice of Ukraine Olha Stefanishyna held a phone conversation with European Commissioner for Enlargement Marta Kos. The officials discussed, in particular, the next steps in Ukraine’s EU accession process.
“Ukraine has prepared all the necessary documents and undertaken the required steps to open three negotiating clusters. Three transformation roadmaps on the rule of law, democratic institutions, and public administration have been approved, developed in consultation with the European Commission,” said Olha Stefanishyna during the conversation.
Both parties stressed the importance of continuing dialogue with EU Member States in order to reach the necessary political decision. This concerns the opening of Cluster 1 “Fundamentals of the Accession Process,” Cluster 2 “Internal Market,” and Cluster 6 “External Relations,” for which Ukraine has successfully completed the bilateral screening with the EU.
Special attention during the call was given to the continuation of EU funding for free school meals for Ukrainian pupils. It should be recalled that in December last year, €65 million were allocated directly to support Ukraine’s school nutrition policy, with the aim of providing free, healthy meals for primary school students nationwide.
The two also discussed the necessary steps to facilitate the return of deported Ukrainian children.
Olha Stefanishyna and Marta Kos also focused on draft laws envisaged under the Ukraine Plan within the framework of the Ukraine Facility – the comprehensive EU financial support mechanism for Ukraine for 2024–2027.
