The Verkhovna Rada has appointed Olha Stefanyshyna as Deputy Prime Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration and Oleksandr Tkachenko as Minister of Culture and Information Policy.

Introducing the candidatures of the new Ministers in the Verkhovna Rada, the Prime Minister of Ukraine Denys Shmyhal noted that the Government has set clear tasks for the new ministers.

For example, Olha Stefanyshyna, the Deputy Prime Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration, has been tasked with actually resuming the work of the Office for Coordination of European Integration. "In our country, Euro-Atlantic integration is sometimes treated as a purely foreign policy history. But in reality, it is about reforms within the country. It is you and me but not the Europeans who need it in order to have a successful country. We must advance exclusively applying best European practices, and this advancement must be parallel in all areas. Another crucial task facing the new Deputy Prime Minister is to negotiate with our European partners regarding the revision of the Association Agreement with the EU, especially in the section of trade quotas. We expect active cooperation with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Parliament and the Office of the President on this issue," the Prime Minister stressed.

According to Denys Shmyhal, Oleksandr Tkachenko as Minister of Culture and Information Policy is expected to introduce a comprehensive approach not only to the sphere of cultural initiatives but also to work in the field of information policy. "In addition, within the framework of the Government's Economic Stimulus Program, we plan to support cultural industries in the amount of UAH 1.5 billion. It is rather critical to present a transparent and rational approach to this funding. And this is one of the primary objectives for the future Minister," the Prime Minister added.

Commenting on the appointment of new ministers, Denys Shmyhal also said that the candidates had been talked over by the majority faction, and each of the candidates had presented and told about their plans to the Parliamentary Committees, as well as they had received positive assessments from the Government and the President's Office. "We have set clear goals in front of the new ministers. Among the primary objectives are mandatory cooperation with the Parliament, as well as responding to the challenges of the coronavirus-inflicted crisis. We are building high hopes on the candidates, and I will watch closely for them to meet expectations," the Prime Minister assured.