🇺🇦🏛️ Government Q&A Hour: Ukraine’s Path to the EU
Speech by Deputy Prime Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration of Ukraine Taras Kachka
During the plenary session of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine as part of the Government Q&A Hour, Deputy Prime Minister Taras Kachka presented updated information on Ukraine’s accession negotiations with the European Union (EU), the implementation of European Commission recommendations, and the progress in aligning national legislation with EU law.
European Integration Amid War: Ukraine Maintains Reform Momentum
This week, the European Commission released its annual Enlargement Report, confirming Ukraine’s systemic progress in all areas of integration — despite the ongoing war.
“We have achieved progress across all negotiation chapters, without exception. We accelerated integration in fifteen areas and improved readiness in seven more. Ukraine is already approaching the midpoint of its preparedness for EU membership,” said Taras Kachka.
The European Commission highlighted significant progress in:
Public administration and judicial reform;
Economic criteria and financial control;
Consumer protection and public health;
Taxation, science, education, and culture;
Customs policy, environment, climate change, and agriculture.
These results confirm that Ukraine continues to maintain resilience and reform dynamics even during wartime, gradually creating the conditions for opening negotiation clusters.
Rule of Law and Anti-Corruption Resilience
Kachka paid special attention to the “Fundamentals” cluster, which covers the rule of law, democratic institutions, and anti-corruption measures.
“Any country aspiring to EU membership must ensure a predictable judicial system and the independence of anti-corruption institutions. This is a non-negotiable requirement for all candidates,” he emphasized.
The European Commission confirmed that Ukraine’s institutional framework for fighting corruption remains effective, with specialized bodies — NAZK, NABU, SAPO, and HACC — operating independently and efficiently.
The government has already adopted roadmaps for the rule of law, democratic institutions, public administration, and an action plan for national minorities. A new Anti-Corruption Strategy through 2030 is expected to come into effect in early 2026, ushering in the second generation of integrity policies.
“Parliament must play a key role in supporting these reforms — both through legislation and by ensuring judicial decisions remain legitimate,” added Kachka.
Negotiation Clusters: Ukraine on the Final Stretch
Ukraine has completed screenings in all areas of European integration in record time, holding over 34 bilateral meetings with the European Commission, producing 9,000 pages of reportsand 700 presentations with input from 70 government institutions.
“This is an unprecedented volume of work. The European Commission has already confirmed Ukraine’s readiness to open the first, second, and sixth clusters. The third cluster is approved, and the fourth and fifth will be finalized by the end of November,” Kachka reported.
By the end of the year, the government will finalize the National Programme for the Adaptation of Ukrainian Legislation to EU Law — the main roadmap for reforms, detailing every chapter of the acquis communautaire to synchronize government and parliamentary processes.
Kachka also thanked MPs for submitting Draft Law №13653 on the special procedure for considering EU-related bills in the Verkhovna Rada:
“The key is involving MPs in drafting legislation from the very start. This will ensure the swift and high-quality adoption of EU integration decisions.”
Legislative Priorities: Ukraine Facility and Industrial Visa-Free Agreement
The Deputy Prime Minister outlined ten key draft laws critical for Ukraine’s commitments under the Ukraine Facility program:
№12087 – energy market coupling;
№12377 – housing policy framework;
№13165-2 – judges’ integrity declaration;
№13435 – property valuation;
№13478 – civil service recruitment and competitions;
№13620 – effective management of state property;
№13696 – veterans’ policy framework;
№14005 – digital enforcement proceedings;
№14030 – state supervision and control;
№14067 – centralized water supply and sewage.
Additionally, work continues on the Rule of Law Roadmap (draft laws №8084, №0304) and preparations for the Agreement on Conformity Assessment and Acceptance of Industrial Products (ACAA), supported by draft laws №12221, №12426, №12285, and №12406 to harmonize legislation with EU standards in public procurement, veterinary medicine, and sanctions policy.
“These are not just documents — these are steps that open the doors of the EU single market to Ukrainian businesses,” Kachka emphasized.
Public Support and European Confidence
Ukraine today is the most popular candidate country among EU citizens, while 74% of Ukrainians support EU accession.
“We have reached a stage where everything depends on us. Either we seize this opportunity and become an EU member, or we lose a historic chance. We cannot afford to let that happen,” he concluded.
Ukraine is confidently moving forward with reforms, consistently meeting its EU commitments, and demonstrating political maturity increasingly recognized in Brussels. The Verkhovna Rada remains the key arena for building the legal foundation of EU membership, with the joint efforts of government, parliament, and society as the key to success.
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