EU-Ukraine bilateral meeting on foreign and security policy started in Brussels

On March 7, 2025, a bilateral meeting between representatives of Ukraine and the European Commission is taking place in Brussels, Belgium, as part of the official screening of the compliance of Ukrainian legislation with EU law under Chapter 31 “Foreign Affairs, Security and Defense Policy”. Such meetings are part of the negotiation process of Ukraine’s accession to the European Union.

Chapter 31 is the final chapter of the screening under Cluster 6, “External Relations”.

In her opening remarks, Chief Negotiator, Deputy Prime Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration – Minister of Justice of Ukraine Olga Stefanishyna noted that Ukraine’s commitments within the EU accession process differ from those of all previous enlargement countries, as Ukraine, the European Union and its member states are now jointly shaping foreign security and defense policy on the continent.

“In its 2024 Enlargement Package Report, the European Commission noted Ukraine’s commitment to implementing structural reforms and rapprochement with the EU in the field of foreign and security policy. We continue intensive political dialogue on foreign and security policy with the EU and its member states. Ukraine adopts the EU acquis in the field of foreign and security policy. Due to the martial law and the consequences of the war, certain transitional periods may be required, which will be duly communicated to the European side, discussed and agreed upon bilaterally as part of the accession process. We expect the Cluster to open in the first half of 2025,” the Deputy Prime Minister said.

She also thanked the EU for continuing to strengthen sanctions against Russia for its aggression, as well as efforts to strengthen monitoring of compliance with restrictive measures and prevent their circumvention. The official noted that Ukraine is also working to improve its national sanctions legislation, in particular to ensure the effective implementation of EU sanctions policies, as well as to properly enshrine in its legal framework the possibility of criminal liability for circumventing sanctions.

Ukraine is a party to and has ratified the main nonproliferation and disarmament agreements to which all EU member states are parties, the Vice Prime Minister noted. In addition, our country is developing a dialogue with the European Union in the field of countering cyber and hybrid threats, including disinformation, and is strengthening military and security cooperation with the EU and its member states within the framework of the European Peace Fund and through the EUMAM and EUAM missions.

“Ukraine strongly welcomes the new EU initiative – ReArm Europe – aimed at strengthening the Union’s defense capabilities. This is a worthy response of the EU to the huge threat to the security of the European continent and strengthening of European defense sovereignty, which will also contribute to the return of peace to Ukraine,” said Olga Stefanishyna, adding that our country is currently preparing for the Second EU-Ukraine Defense Industrial Forum to be held in Brussels on May 12. 

During the bilateral meetings under Chapter 31 “Foreign Affairs and Security and Defense Policy”, the Ukrainian delegation will present reports on the activities of the EU institutions, decision-making process, as well as the Common Security and Defense Policy (CSDP) and the Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP). In particular, this section discusses the following issues:

• CSDP/CFSP principles, legal instruments and procedures;
• Institutional frameworks (European Council, Foreign Affairs Council, Political and Security Committee/Council Working Groups), instruments (declarations, statements, approvals) and local EU cooperation;
• Political dialogue with third countries;
• Human rights in foreign policy;
• European Peace Facility;
• EU policy on restrictive measures (sanctions);
• Conflict prevention;
• Non-Proliferation of Weapons of Mass Destruction / Small Arms and Light Weapons Control Strategy;
• Fight against terrorism;
• Cooperation with international organizations;
• Security measures (classified information);
• CSDP missions and operations;
• PESCO and defense issues;
• Hybrid threats, foreign information manipulation and interference (FIMI);
• Anti-corruption measures.

Ukraine’s progress is represented by Yevhen Perebyinis, Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs; Serhiy Boyev, Deputy Minister of Defense of Ukraine for European Integration; Vladyslav Vlasiuk, Advisor to the Presidential Commissioner for Sanctions Policy; Andriy Najos, Deputy Minister of Culture and Strategic Communications for European Integration. The meeting is attended by representatives of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Defense, the Ministry of Justice, the Security Service of Ukraine, the Ministry of Culture and Strategic Communications, as well as the Presidential Commissioner for Sanctions Policy.