Yesterday in Brussels, a new chapter in the history of our state began. European Union leaders agreed to grant Ukraine candidate status for EU membership. The Ukrainian people have deserved both this status and the status of an EU full member. Thousands of Ukraine's best sons and daughters gave their lives for a free, independent, sovereign and European Ukraine. None has the right to forget the feat of Ukrainian heroes who halted the enemy's invasion from the east and without exaggeration shielded Europe. Eternal memory and glory to them.

Today we embark on our challenging, but now rather distinct and concrete path towards full membership in the European Union.

At the same time, candidate status will allow us to accelerate the transformation and recovery of our country. Ukraine will become a participant in many EU programs and initiatives. We will have access to financial assistance for countries preparing for accession. We will become a more attractive country for investors, we will have rules that are clear to international companies. After the end of the war, the EU will treat the reconstruction of Ukraine not as a reconstruction of a third country, but as an investment in the welfare of a potential future member of the European Union.

We have mentioned repeatedly that Ukraine does not require 10 or 15 years to complete the transformation of our country in full compliance with EU rules. We can achieve it much faster.

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Definitely, here and now our principal objective for all of us is to bring our victory in the war closer. The new economic policy is an essential element in securing victory. This week, the Government has already adopted documents on the launch of the eRobota program and announced three grant programs to support the establishment of startups. Today we are launching three more programs, which are also aimed at creating new jobs, increasing the incomes of Ukrainians and developing our economy.

The first program is non-refundable grants for the creation and development of processing enterprises. These can be enterprises in the field of woodworking, furniture production, metalworking, agricultural processing, production of building materials, etc. The state will provide up to UAH 8 million in assistance to those who already have a business in the field of processing or want to launch new projects. The grant can be spent on the purchase of equipment. The main requirements for recipients: the creation of at least 25 new jobs and payment of taxes.

People who want to receive a grant must submit a working idea, a clear business plan and raise personal resources for their work. Conditions of co-financing - for the first applicants their contribution should make up 30%. We also provide additional opportunities to obtain an affordable loan under the program "5-7-9" in the amount of up to UAH 16 million.

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The next program concerns the development of IT sector and startups in the field of high technology. What do we offer? From UAH 750,000 to 3,500,000 for startups. We already have the Ukrainian State Startups Fund successfully operating, and it will administer this program and use its expertise to make everything really work. The main funding criteria: the creation of 5 jobs, as well as the emphasis on the development of new technologies and solutions. Ukraine is a country with a living innovation environment. Ukraine is a country with huge potential for innovative business. It is crucial for us to maintain such economic capacity of our state.

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The third program we are to approve and launch today is called Start IT. This is a scholarship program of up to UAH 30,000 for training and obtaining skills of a junior developer, data analyst or graphic designer. Funds can only be spent on school or courses to be determined by the Ministry of Digital Transformation. In total, the state will provide an opportunity to start a career in IT for 60,000 Ukrainians. The total budget of the program is UAH 1.8 billion. This program is not for students, and not for IT professionals. This program is for people who have previous work experience, but now, for example, have lost this job or are idle and want to learn new skills for a new career. The state provides such an opportunity. In recent years, IT people have become a real middle class in Ukraine, so we are interested in their number only increasing.

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In total, the six grant programs presented this week are the basis of our large eRobota project, which will allow anyone who has the desire, skills and plan to start their own business, expand their small or medium-sized business, and start a new career.

We want people to stay and live in Ukraine. We want them see opportunities and prospects here. This is what the "eRobota" program is aimed at. Gradually, in the Diia there will appear an opportunity and details on how to apply for each of these grant projects. Everything will be convenient, fast and transparent.

"eRobota" is the first of eight elements of the new economic strategy and policy of the Government. Another such element should be a new policy to support the Ukrainian manufacturer. Not bans and discrimination of foreign goods, but encouragement to consume goods of Ukrainian origin.

Amidst the war, to support Ukrainian business means to support the Ukrainian economy and, accordingly, the Ukrainian army. I urge everyone to buy Ukrainian goods, use Ukrainian materials, trade networks - to give priority to Ukrainian products. This is what each of us can do to make our economy and state stronger.

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Before moving on to the agenda, there is another crucial issue that needs to be clarified. This is a question of starting the upcoming academic year. The school year will begin on September 1 in the offline regime.

This is a difficult issue because it implies the safety of our children. The security situation in the country is different, and it is already clear that it is impossible to return to face-to-face training in frontline areas, and therefore the online format will continue there as well as in the occupied territories.

Local authorities should work out the whole organizational process of both full-time and mixed forms of education. The Government recommends starting the school year on September 1. At universities, we recommend starting training on August 15, except for the first year students. The Ministry of Education and Science, the Ministry of the Interior, the Ministry for Communities and Territories Development, and the MCA (Military Civil Administration are tasked with ensuring that children are transported to schools, as well as security in educational institutions. Local governments must organize the following:

- regular training on evacuation of students to shelters and lessons on safety,

- visualization of the way to safe places in all educational institutions,

- ensure shelter facilities have all the conditions for stay and study,

- every educational institution should have an alarm button in case of an emergency.

The SES should soon complete the development of standard safety protocols, and then the MCA should approve on their basis individual safety protocols for each educational institution and familiarize students and parents with the protocols.

We have a little more than two months left to make the whole educational process as safe and effective as possible. Kindergartens, schools and universities in non-frontline areas must operate. This is vital, and the Government will do its utmost to ensure educational process in a safe environment.

Thank you for your attention.

Glory to Ukraine!