It is critical for Ukraine to thoroughly prepare for the 23rd Ukraine-EU Summit and to gain the support of the European Union in future joint initiatives.

Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal emphasized during the third meeting of the Commission for Coordination of the Implementation of the Association Agreement between Ukraine and the EU.

The sitting gathered together Acting Head of Support Group for Ukraine, Deputy Director General of the Directorate General for Neighborhood and Enlargement Negotiations of the European Commission Katarína Mathernová, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Lithuania to Ukraine Valdemaras Sarapinas, First Deputy Speaker of the Verkhovna Rada Ruslan Stefanchuk, representatives of the Government, the Verkhovna Rada and the Office of the President.

The Prime Minister noted that at the last meeting the plan of priority bills and regulations in the field of European integration for QI this year had been approved.

"It should be noted that 8 draft acts have already been adopted in the first quarter, and 13 are being prepared for submission to the Government. I would also like to thank the Verkhovna Rada for cooperation and commend the adoption of 2 important laws on the certification of the transmission system operator and on veterinary medicine. Beside, 4 bills have passed the first reading," said Denys Shmyhal.

During the meeting, the Commission approved a schedule of 44 draft laws in the field of European integration, which must be submitted to the Government during the second quarter, and an updated plan with a list of priority bills.

"An intensive dialogue and a rich agenda of Ukraine-EU relations pose ambitious and complex tasks for our country. We clearly understand that our European integration progress, first of all, depends on the conducted homework", the Head of the Government noted.

According to Denys Shmyhal, Ukraine is systematically preparing for the upcoming 23rd Ukraine-EU Summit, during which it is planned to discuss the European integration efforts of the Ukrainian side and identify further benchmarks.

On the outcomes of the meeting, the Prime Minister commissioned the members of the Commission to report monthly on the results of work on the implementation of the determined European integration priorities. Apart from that, to promptly submit to the Government draft regulations aimed at fulfilling Ukraine’s European integration obligations, and to ensure follow-up of priority European integration bills registered in the Verkhovna Rada.