On 3 September 2022, during the meeting with the delegation of the Heads of the European Affairs Parliamentary Committees of the EU Member States and the First Vice-President of the European Parliament Otmar Karas, Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine Ruslan Stefanchuk told his European colleagues about the work that the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine has already done on the European integration track. The steps have been taken to adapt Ukrainian legislation to the European one, to reformat the activities of the Parliament in order to ensure sectoral compliance with European integration prospects, to establish cooperation with European institutions, etc.

He thanked the MEPs for supporting Ukraine on its path to European integration, in particular in obtaining the status of a candidate country for EU membership.

“We plan to fulfill all seven requirements of the European Commission by the end of this year and move on to full-fledged negotiations on Ukraine’s further membership in the EU,” emphasized the Speaker of the Ukrainian Parliament, calling on the Heads of European Parliamentary Committees to actively cooperate and share experience with Ukrainian colleagues on Ukraine’s progress on the way to EU membership.

Today, according to Ruslan Stefanchuk, Ukraine needs to strengthen inter-parliamentary diplomacy, because at the level of parliaments of EU member states that it is possible to solve those issues that are crucial for defeating the aggressor.

The Head of the Ukrainian Parliament identified several priority tasks where our state needs solutions today: military assistance, increased sanctions pressure on the Russian Federation, energy security, financial support for Ukraine in its gradual recovery.

Ruslan Stefanchuk particularly emphasized the support of the EU Parliaments in providing Ukraine with even greater military assistance. He also called on his European colleagues to lobby their parliaments for a decision to recognize Russia as a state sponsor of terrorism.

In addition, Ruslan Stefanchuk thanked his European colleagues for the financial support that their Parliaments provide to Ukraine and asked to further strengthen it, because today Ukraine defends not only its territory and independence, but also the freedom of the civilized world.

Photo Credit: Press Service of the Administration of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine