The second meeting in the Weimar Triangle + Ukraine format took place in Kyiv to discuss European integration of Ukraine

On June 19, at the invitation of the Deputy Prime Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration of Ukraine Olha Stefanishyna, the Ministers for European Affairs of Germany and Poland arrived in Kyiv.

As part of the visit, a special meeting was held at St. Sophia of Kyiv, National Conservation Area, with Minister of State for European Affairs at the German Federal Foreign Office Anna Lührmann and Minister for the European Union of Poland Adam Szłapka in the Weimar Triangle format. France was represented by Ambassador of France to Ukraine Gaël Veyssière.

Olha Stefanishyna drew attention to the importance of the visit of high-ranking EU officials to Kyiv in the context of the official start of negotiations on Ukraine’s accession to the EU. She expressed her gratitude to them for their support of the decision to adopt a negotiating framework for Ukraine and launch the official accession process.

“Today’s meeting in Kyiv is special as we approach the historic stage of our return to the family of European countries. An important decision has been made to officially launch negotiations on our country’s accession to the European Union. We are grateful to our partners for supporting Ukraine on the path of reforms and transformations of our country, even in the context of a full-scale war. I am confident that during this visit you will be able to personally note the work that our country has undertaken, in particular over the past 2 years since we received the candidate status,” Deputy Prime Minister Olha Stefanishyna said.

Deputy Prime Minister also informed about the preparation of the First Intergovernmental Conference, which will give an official start to the negotiations on the accession of Ukraine and Moldova to the EU, and updated on the steps taken by Ukraine on the way to the adoption of this decision by the EU, as well as further plans within the negotiation process.

The ministers noted Ukraine’s progress in the reforms carried out for the opening of EU accession negotiations and emphasized the importance of continuing the implementation of the adopted changes in the sphere of the rule of law, judicial reform, the media reform and the protection of national minorities of Ukraine.

The participants also discussed the EU enlargement prospects, in particular in the context of the elections to the European institutions and the formation of the new European Commission and the EU agenda for the coming years.

“Ukraine’s future lies in the European Union. We are here in Kyiv today to make this clear. Working closely with the Ukrainian authorities, we will open accession negotiations with Ukraine next week, thanks to the impressive joint reform effort of Ukraine’s parliament, government and civil society,” said Anna Luhrmann, State Minister for European Affairs of the Federal Republic of Germany. “We are witnessing the first results of the reforms that Ukraine has implemented despite the difficult situation caused by the continuing war. Such significant results have been achieved, in particular, thanks to the Ukrainian men and women who serve in the Armed Forces and defend not only their country, but also the principles of sovereignty, integrity and inviolability of the country’s territory. We will continue to support Ukraine on its path to the EU and peace for as long as it takes.”

Adam Szlapka, Minister for European Union Affairs of the Republic of Poland, said:

“We came to Kyiv to reaffirm our support for Ukraine’s European integration aspirations. Since the Revolution of Dignity, Ukrainians have been sacrificing their lives for freedom, independence and sovereignty, as well as for the opportunity to choose their future. Ukrainians have already decided that the future of their country lies in the Euro-Atlantic community and the EU family. This proves that Ukrainians strive for and share European values – freedom, human rights, and the rule of law. Poland always supported Ukraine’s European integration path. I would like to underline that Ukraine has fulfilled all the conditions defined by the European Commission for the next step – the start of the membership negotiations. We are glad that the First Intergovernmental conference will take place next week. The negotiations are a complex and challenging process that requires a thorough transformation within the country. Poland will continue to support Ukraine on this path.” 

As part of the visit, the EU officials also visited the NACP, where they met with the leadership of the NACP, HACC, NABU and SAPO. The high-ranking officials got acquainted with the main achievements of Ukraine in the context of implementing reforms aimed at preventing and combating corruption.