Denys Shmyhal: European integration work does not stop even for a day

By the end of 2024, Ukraine plans to be fully prepared to join the European Union. The Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal emphasized at a Gov’t session on August 23.

"The support of our international allies was manifested not only in the provision of weapons and direct financing of the budget. Ukraine received a strong political message regarding the prospect of joining the European Union. The status of a candidate for EU membership is a truly epoch-making decision," said Denys Shmyhal.

As the Prime Minister noted, the previous achievements representing months of preparation had allowed Ukraine to fast integrate into the EU energy space and join the European electricity network.

"In less than two months, the state earned UAH 2 billion from the export of electricity to Europe. And this is just the beginning. The potential is UAH 70 billion per year and more," the Head of Government emphasized.

Denys Shmyhal added that the European integration work does not stop for a single day. Thus, since June, Ukraine has managed to get the EU to cancel all customs duties and quotas on Ukrainian exports. ‘Transport visa waiver’ has been in effect since July, and by the end of the year, Ukraine expects to introduce ‘customs visa waiver’, after which it will work on industrial and digital visa-free regimes.