Ukraine is working on implementing all the recommendations of the European Union in order to get positive assessment from the European Commission by the end of the year. The Prime Minister of Ukraine Denys Shmyhal emphasized during the 8th plenary session of the Ukraine-EU Association Council.

The Head of Government noted that this year's meeting of the Council was taking place against the background of russia's war against Ukraine, as well as unprecedented challenges for our country, the EU, and the world as a whole: "This war is aimed at the destruction of Ukrainian statehood and the extermination of the Ukrainian people. And to hinder the European integration processes of Ukraine as well."

Instead, on July 1, 2022, a Joint Statement of the President, the Speaker of the Verkhovna Rada, and the Prime Minister was signed regarding the strategic goal of full membership of Ukraine in the EU. According to Denys Shmyhal, this demonstrated the readiness of all branches of government to work in synergy to achieve these goals. On June 23, by the decision of the EU, Ukraine was granted candidate status.

"Ukraine stands ready to do all the necessary homework in order to get closer to the start of pre-accession negotiations. We engage in the implementation of all EU recommendations in order to receive a positive assessment by the European Commission by the end of the year," stressed Denys Shmyhal.

The Head of the Ukrainian Government expressed his conviction that these steps would enable the negotiations on Ukraine's accession to the EU to start in the near future: "We pay great attention to the continuation of the work on integration into the EU internal market and sectoral integration into the EU, which began within the framework of the Agreement on association".

According to the Prime Minister, the current work is underway to ensure the introduction of visa-free regimes, primarily in the customs, industrial, transport sectors, and further integration into the energy, digital, roaming, and payment areas of the European Union.

"Grateful for receiving the invitation to join the Convention on a Common Transit Procedure and the Convention on the Simplification of Formalities in Trade in Goods. Ukraine has already completed domestic procedures and demonstrates readiness to join the Conventions as of October 1. At that, we ask for the launch of the automated exchange of customs declarations, which is essential in the context of the introduction of a visa-free customs regime with the EU," the Prime Minister emphasized.

Summarizing, Denys Shmyhal emphasized that this was the first meeting of the Association Council in the new status of Ukraine in the EU. The next meetings of the Ukraine-EU bilateral bodies and the evaluation of European integration progress will take place already in accordance with the procedures within the framework of the enlargement policy.

"I expect that the results of our meeting today will be an important directory for the further promotion of the ambitious agenda of Ukraine-EU relations, primarily in light of Ukraine's approach to pre-accession negotiations with the European Union," the Prime Minister emphasized.