Ukraine must work to ensure the integration of creative industries into the European cultural space. This will open access to the large economy, investment, advertising, promote the development of small and medium-sized enterprises.

This was emphasized by the Deputy Prime Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration of Ukraine Olha Stefanishyna during the Forum "Creative Ukraine - 2020".

According to her, since 2014, the creative industries, educational and cultural space are areas the European Union pays special attention due to their impact on the development of people-to-people contacts. Thus, after obtaining a visa-free regime with the EU, it was the cultural industries that were at the forefront of all transformations. Hence, an opportunity to join various areas within the EU program "Creative Europe" and cultural exchanges has opened for Ukraine.

“Currently Ukraine is pursuing a strong digitalization policy and demonstrating huge progress in implementing the Association Agreement. We are the only country outside the EU that negotiates access to the EU internal market, the only country that has joined the processes of development of the green economy and the only country that uses and has membership in a large number of European Union programs and agencies. All this is a change in the narrative and an understanding that Ukraine is a powerful country with significant potential and opportunities that we can offer. And, it is critical that they want to see us there,” said Olha Stefanishyna.

The Deputy Prime Minister also noted that the creative industries being shaped in Ukraine need support from the state and that the creative industries are paving their way to a completely independent business format with colossal investment resources.