Ministry of Justice launches development of national programme for aligning legislation with EU law

On 8 May, a two-day briefing session commenced in Kyiv, dedicated to the development of the National Programme for Aligning Ukrainian Legislation with European Union Law (EU acquis).

Ukraine’s Deputy Prime Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration and Minister of Justice, Olha Stefanishyna, officially launched the process of developing the National Programme by opening the event.

“This is our first major meeting on a document that will form the foundation of Ukraine’s entire EU membership process. We’ve chosen an approach where the alignment programme will be progressively developed as negotiations advance. It’s crucial that all contributions are not only discussed in working groups but also reflected in the National Programme, as this work, carried out jointly with the Ministry of Justice and the Government, provides the basis for EU member states to make decisions in Ukraine’s favour. This is the same process all countries underwent to become EU members. I thank everyone participating and taking responsibility,” the Deputy Prime Minister emphasised.

The event was attended by Deputy Minister of Justice Svitlana Tereshchenko, representatives of central executive bodies involved in the alignment process, the Government Office for Coordination of European and Euro-Atlantic Integration, and experts from international technical assistance projects, including Mante Makauskaite, Ukraine2EU Team Lead, and specialists from other technical assistance initiatives. Over 250 participants joined the working meeting both online and in person.

During the event, Svitlana Tereshchenko highlighted the Programme’s significance as a tool for systemic change:

“This Programme is not just a technical document. It is the foundation for the systemic transformation of Ukrainian legislation, bringing us closer to EU membership. It must serve as a collaborative tool where every government body understands its role and responsibility,” the Deputy Minister of Justice underscored.

The National Programme is set to become a comprehensive tool, replacing all previous fragmented documents in the field of European integration. Its primary goal is to create a cohesive, systematic plan to fully harmonise Ukrainian legislation with EU law.

The Programme encompasses not only the formal transposition of EU acts but also the institutional changes necessary for the effective implementation of European standards. This will enable Ukraine not merely to align with the EU but to systematically implement reforms across all sectors in line with the EU acquis.

The National Programme is a standard planning tool for all candidate countries seeking EU membership. In international practice, it is typically referred to as the NPAA – National Programme for the Adoption of the Acquis. This planning format is customary for countries pursuing European integration.

As participants noted, the new National Programme is Ukraine’s “homework diary” on its path to EU membership, ensuring a focus on tangible changes rather than mere declarations.