Berlin – ESI at discussion with Ihor Zhovkva, Deputy Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine

23 September 2022

ESI’s Gerald Knaus was invited to participate in a closed expert discussion with Ihor Zhovkva, Deputy Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine on “How should Ukraine prepare for the accession talks with the EU?” organised by The New Europe Center.

In the discussion, Gerald explained how to prevent Ukraine from falling into the numerous pitfalls of European integration that other countries faced (long-term non-opening of negotiations, politicisation of the process and abuse of the right of veto by member states, etc.). He added that Ukraine should not only strive to start accession negotiations in the spring of 2023, but also promote Ukraine’s full access to the EU single market and the four freedoms based on progress in the implementation of reforms.

Ihor Zhovkva said that it is extremely important for Ukraine not to get bogged down in EU bureaucratic procedures, and that Ukraine is counting on the support of EU member states to start accession negotiations.

"Ukraine and Ukrainians are not afraid of anything: neither the aggressor, nor the adoption and implementation of bold decisions. And we expect the same courage and bravery from our European colleagues. Ukraine is not yet in the EU, but it is a European country. We do not want to belong to the Russian past, we want to belong to the European future.”

The other speakers were Alyona Getmanchuk (Director of the New Europe Center) and Leonid Litra (Senior Research Fellow New Europe Center).