Ukraine continues to make steady progress towards EU membership, paying particular attention to reforms in the judiciary and human rights. This was stated by Olha Stefanishyna, Deputy Prime Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration and Minister of Justice, during the presentation of the key findings of the Shadow Report on the negotiated Chapter 23 “Judiciary and Fundamental Rights”. In her speech, she emphasised that cooperation with civil society was the basis for reforms that brought Ukraine closer to EU membership. The Shadow Report, prepared by a consortium of civil society organisations led by the Agency for Legislative Initiatives, outlines achievements in the areas of rule of law, anti-corruption and protection of fundamental human rights and freedoms, and identifies priority steps towards compliance with European standards.

Olha Stefanishyna stressed the importance of cooperation between state institutions and civil society, noting that such interaction not only strengthened the state but also demonstrated the uniqueness of Ukraine’s approach to EU integration. “Mutual mobilisation and cooperation have already made it possible to achieve what seemed impossible a few years ago, and we have achieved this in times of full-scale war,” the Deputy Prime Minister said, adding that the European Commission had noted Ukraine’s progress in its reports.

Olha Stefanishyna also drew attention to the fact that Ukraine was completing the screening of its legislation for compliance with EU law as part of a fundamental block of reforms, laying the groundwork for further negotiations. An important part of these efforts is the preparation of a reform roadmap aimed at strengthening the rule of law and protecting human rights. This roadmap has no time limit, but only specific quantitative and qualitative benchmarks, and will be open until the conclusion of negotiations on Ukraine’s future membership in the EU.

In addition, Olha Stefanishyna stressed the need to strengthen state institutions by taking uncompromising, decisive and swift measures to establish the rule of law, ensure justice and fight corruption at all levels.

“Our goal is not only to open negotiations with the EU, but also to consolidate European principles and values at the level of legislation, at the level of institutions and at the level of our thinking,” she added.