On 30 April, in Brussels, Deputy Prime Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration of Ukraine Olha Stefanishyna met with Minister of Foreign Affairs of Belgium Hadja Lahbib on the sidelines of a special EU ministerial meeting.

Hadja Lahbib noted Ukraine’s significant progress in reforms, especially given the challenges of a full-scale war. In particular, the meeting focused on Ukraine’s implementation of 4 additional recommendations of the European Commission, which were necessary for the start of EU accession negotiations.

Olha Stefanishyna noted that Ukraine had implemented the necessary reforms, which made it possible to talk confidently about the next steps. She stressed the importance of approving the negotiating framework for Ukraine as soon as possible and holding the first intergovernmental session under the Belgian presidency, i.e. in June this year.

“It is symbolic that on such an important date – the 20th anniversary of the EU’s largest enlargement – we, together with the future enlargement states, are taking steps to move the negotiation process forward. It was important for us to discuss and synchronise our expectations for further high-level meetings. I am grateful for today’s meeting, for the support of Ukraine and the prioritisation of EU enlargement and security issues,” the Deputy Prime Minister said.

The participants of the meeting discussed the course of the screening – explanatory sessions on European legislation within the negotiation process. Olha Stefanishyna emphasised the special format of the meeting, which brought together member and enlargement countries to discuss the challenges of European integration, including reforms in the rule of law.

“This is an important and useful experience. Thank you for this unique initiative, for this feeling of belonging to a single European family,” Olha Stefanishyna said.

The special meeting took place on the 20th anniversary of the historic enlargement of the EU, when 10 new member states joined the EU in 2004. The meeting was attended by EU ministers of the member states and high-ranking officials of 10 countries seeking EU integration, namely: Ukraine, Turkey, North Macedonia, Montenegro, Albania, Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Moldova, Georgia and Kosovo.