On 21 October, Olha Stefanishyna, Deputy Prime Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration and Minister of Justice of Ukraine, took part in an online panel discussion “EU Enlargement: A Geopolitical Necessity” at the 20th Salzburg Europe Summit.

The discussion was also attended by: Karoline Edtstadler, Federal Minister for the EU and Constitution of Austria; Josip Brkić, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Bosnia and Herzegovina; Šime Erlić, Minister of Regional Development and EU Funds of Croatia; Maida Gorčević, Minister for European Affairs of Montenegro; Christian Schmidt, High Representative for Bosnia and Herzegovina; and others.

The participants discussed the current policy and prospects for future EU enlargement and the necessary reforms of the EU itself for successful enlargement.

“We have energised the process, and now all the enlargement countries, having received a new impetus, are working hard to maintain this momentum. Together, as countries with a common goal of EU membership, we must make sure that enlargement does not slow down and remains an indispensable element of strengthening the European Union. We have already seen that the new European Commission has made enlargement and EU preparations for it, as well as security and defence policy, key areas of focus. This is a positive signal that reflects the current priorities of the European Union. For my part, I have always assured my colleagues from the Western Balkans, Moldova and other enlargement countries that everything that is needed from the Ukrainian side for all of us to succeed will be done,” the Deputy Prime Minister stressed.

During the discussion, she also outlined reforms in areas that were considered to be the most important and challenging on Ukraine’s European integration path.

“Today, the entire Ukrainian legislative and institutional framework in the energy sector is fully aligned with EU standards, which is an element of our sustainability. And without the opportunity to join ENTSO-E, the European system of electricity operators, it is impossible to imagine how Ukraine would have survived in winter and with the outbreak of war. All this became possible thanks to almost a decade of irreversible institutional reforms,” said Olha Stefanishyna.

She called Ukraine’s ratification of the Istanbul Convention another important element of approximation to European standards.

“There used to be a lot of myths and prejudices around the ratification of this Convention, and we understood the importance of this decision for Ukraine. And at the right time, representatives of different political forces united around something that is really important,” Olha Stefanishyna stressed.

The most difficult task, she said, was to transform Ukraine’s administrative institutions.

“You can pass a lot of good laws, but the key is to ensure their proper implementation. Therefore, I think that the main challenge will be to build the capacity of public administration, which will also implement legislation in accordance with the will of the people and in the spirit of European values,” added the Deputy Prime Minister.

The event was organised by the Institute of the Regions of Europe (IRE) under the patronage of Karl Nehammer, Federal Chancellor of Austria.