Brussels hosts bilateral EU-Ukraine meetings on the Internal Market Сluster
On Tuesday, 19 November, the bilateral sessions between Ukraine and the European Commission started in Brussels, Belgium, within the framework of the screening of the compliance of Ukrainian legislation with EU law under Сluster 2 - Internal Market. The screening is an integral part of the negotiation process on Ukraine's accession to the European Union.
During four days, the Ukrainian delegation, led by the Chief Negotiator, Deputy Prime Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration and Minister of Justice Olha Stefanishyna, will present progress in the implementation of EU acquis in the following areas: freedom of movement of workers, entrepreneurship, freedom of movement of capital and provision of services.
"The launch of the internal market screening is a key preparatory stage for Ukraine's effective economic integration into the EU, which is the basis of European integration. The Ukrainian team is well prepared for the meetings, and over the next four days will discuss in detail with the European Commission representatives the implementation of 3 out of 4 fundamental freedoms of the EU. We expect that productive work on these sections will create the preconditions for the earliest possible opening of negotiations on this cluster,’ said Olha Stefanishyna, Chief Negotiator and Deputy Prime Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration.
Olga Stefanishyna noted that Ukraine, having carefully analysed EU law on freedom of movement of workers, is committed to implementing the relevant regulation, while it is important to provide for a transition period.
"Today, we are experiencing important changes in the perception of the European integration process and the awareness of being part of the European space. This includes the understanding that the issues of the European Union are no longer foreign policy issues, and Europeans are no longer foreigners to us. So, I think that compared to previous meetings within the framework of the screening, today's stage will have an even greater effect on the transformation of our country," the official stressed.
"We have set ourselves an ambitious goal of activating and integrating into the labour market more Ukrainians and citizens of EU member states. This is a key step towards achieving stable annual economic growth. We are actively working on adapting Ukrainian legislation to the European one to create favourable conditions for attracting more Ukrainians to the labour market and highly skilled citizens of EU member states, as well as stimulating the country's economic development," said Deputy Minister of Economy of Ukraine Tetiana Berezhna in her welcoming speech.
Thus, on Tuesday, 19 November, a screening session on Chapter 2 - Freedom of movement for workers will be held.
This section covers such issues as protection of workers' rights, mutual recognition of professional qualifications, coordination of social and labour
The section covers such issues as the protection of workers' rights, mutual recognition of professional qualifications, coordination of social security, and free movement of workers within the European Union. The main objective of the relevant EU regulation is, inter alia, to eliminate any discrimination in employment, remuneration and other working conditions and employment towards persons lawfully working outside their country as well as to effectively coordinate social security systems.
The meeting on Chapter 4 - Freedom of movement of capital, will take place on 20 November. This chapter covers issues such as rules and restrictions on capital movements within the EU, between Member States and third countries, regulation of cross-border payments and the execution of securities orders, and the fight against money laundering.
On 21 and 22 November, a session will be held on Chapter 3 - Freedom of establishment and freedom to provide services. EU law in this area is aimed at ensuring equal rights of EU citizens and legal entities to provide services, mutual recognition of professional contracts, qualifications and regulation of postal services.
Representatives of the Ministry of Economy, the Ministry of Digital Transformation, the Government Office for Coordination of European and Euro-Atlantic Integration, the Ministry of Justice, the Ministry for Communities, Territories and Infrastructure Development, the National Bank, the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Social Policy, the Ministry of Health, inter alia, Oleksiy Sobolev, First Deputy Minister of Economy of Ukraine, Tetiana Berezhna, Deputy Minister of Economy, Svitlana Tereshchenko, Deputy Minister of Justice of Ukraine, and Yuriy Heletiy, Oleksiy Shaban, Dmytro Oliynyk, Deputy Governors of the National Bank of Ukraine, and others take part in sessions from Ukraine either online of offline format.
Background information
Screening is an official procedure during which the European Commission, together with a candidate country for EU membership, analyses the compliance of the candidate country's national legislation with the relevant EU acquis (EU law). The screening takes place under 33 negotiating chapters, which are grouped into 6 clusters (thematic blocks) in accordance with the revised EU enlargement methodology in 2020.