Ukraine begins bilateral screening meetings with EU on enterprise and industrial policy

On 28 April in Brussels, Belgium, a bilateral meeting commenced between delegations from Ukraine and the European Commission as part of the official screening of Ukrainian legislation’s alignment with EU law under Chapter 20, “Enterprise and Industrial Policy,” within Cluster 3, “Competitiveness and Inclusive Growth.”

“Ukraine is fully committed to implementing EU legislation in the areas of industrial policy, competition, state aid, public procurement, and support for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). We are prepared to present clear implementation timelines and discuss transitional periods that may be necessary due to the extraordinary circumstances of the war. While progress will not be immediate, particularly under martial law, our dedication to aligning our legislation with European standards and advancing our European integration path remains unwavering,” said Ukraine’s chief negotiator and head of the delegation, Deputy Prime Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration and Minister of Justice Olha Stefanishyna, opening the meeting online.

Ukraine’s progress in Brussels is being represented by Deputy Minister of Economy Andrii Teliupa, First Deputy Minister of Education and Science Yevhen Kudriavets, Deputy Minister of Economy Tetiana Berezhna, representatives of the State Space Agency of Ukraine, the State Service of Geology and Mineral Resources of Ukraine, and others.

Olha Stefanishyna highlighted that the consistency of Ukraine’s legal alignment with the EU in these areas had been repeatedly recognised, notably in EU reports over recent years. Despite the onset of russia’s full-scale aggression, Ukraine had achieved strategic progress in these fields and was now continuing a fundamental transformation from outdated information models to modern ones.

Particular emphasis was placed on enhancing the resilience and competitiveness of micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), improving access to financing, simplifying regulations, and encouraging cluster development. Special attention was also given to the digital and innovative potential of SMEs.

“Ukraine aims to integrate into the EU’s industrial ecosystems. We are already collaborating with European networks and expert groups and seek to deepen this engagement by joining initiatives such as the Single Market Programme, the Enterprise Europe Network, and cluster cooperation frameworks,” the Deputy Prime Minister emphasised.

During the screening, Ukraine will present the status of its implementation and alignment with EU policies in areas such as horizontal aspects of industrial policy, entrepreneurship policies and SME tools, and legislation within industrial sectors.

EU legislation covered by Chapter 20, “Enterprise and Industrial Policy,” aims to promote industrial strategies that enhance competitiveness by accelerating adaptation to structural changes, fostering an environment conducive to business creation and growth across the EU, and supporting domestic and foreign investment. It also seeks to improve the overall business environment for SMEs.

The bilateral screening meetings for this negotiation chapter will continue over two days, 28 and 29 April.