Roberta Metsola:
The European Parliament will continue to support Ukraine
On 9 May, during her visit to Kyiv, the President of the European Parliament, Roberta Metsola, emphasised that the European Parliament would “support Ukraine in moving forward on its European path” in every possible way. “Accession negotiations should start as soon as possible, and I am optimistic that the negotiating framework will be adopted by EU Member States,” said Ms. Metsola. “We must take responsibility, we must strengthen military support and deliver results in our financial support.
Josep Borrell:
Russia’s war of aggression is not only threatening the European Union, but world peace
On the occasion of the Europe Day on 9 May, High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Josep Borrell, shared some reflections on the necessary paradigm shift for the EU in the dangerous geopolitical landscape we are now living in, between the Russian war of aggression against Ukraine and the war in the Middle East.
“We must assume our strategic responsibility now and become able to defend Europe by ourselves, building a strong European pillar inside NATO,” he stated.
Olha Stefanishyna:
The key thing that connects Ukraine with Europe is values
Europe Day, which Ukraine celebrated together with the European Union for the second time on 9 May, embodies our most important aspirations – unity and peace. In an article for European Pravda, Olha Stefanishyna, Deputy Prime Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration of Ukraine, reflects on how Ukraine, as a full Member State of the EU, will undoubtedly become stronger, and how its integration will also strengthen the European Union.
EUROPE DAY IN UKRAINE
Commemorative coin
to mark Europe Day
On 9 May, Ambassador of the European Union to Ukraine, Katarina Mathernová and Governor of the National Bank of Ukraine, Andriy Pyshnyy presented the Europe Day commemorative coin. This coin symbolises the unity of Ukraine and Europe, solidarity in the struggle for democracy and freedom, our shared values, and our aspirations for a peaceful and prosperous future. “The launch of this coin highlights the strength of the links between Ukraine and the EU,” said Ms. Mathernová.
First EuroSummit of CSOs takes place on Europe Day
EuroSummit united key civil society organisations (CSOs) involved in the process of European integration since the Association Agreement’s implementation in 2014, along with newer CSOs possessing strong sectoral expertise but still developing their knowledge in this field. The marathon of negotiations on Ukraine’s membership in the EU is a lengthy process, requiring years of systematic effort and substantial resources from all stakeholders, including the expert community.
#TogetherWeActFest:
On 25 May, over 3,000 people learned how the EU supports civil society and media in Ukraine
On 25 May, the TogetherWeActFest, organised by the EU Delegation to Ukraine on the occasion of the Europe Days, gathered influencers, experts, CSOs and media representatives, officials, Kyiv residents, and visitors at the Mystetskyi Arsenal. The festival was a flagship public event organised in the framework of the nationwide communication campaign ‘Together We Act. Together We Are Europe’.
A street exhibition called #TogetherWeAct, showcasing the key areas of EU support, was presented at the festival. It will be open to visitors at Sophia Square in Kyiv until early June.
EU–UKRAINE: ACCESSION ALGORITHM
Lyubov Akulenko:
Our main challenges are having a depoliticised
professional negotiation team and reforming public administration
In anticipation of the start of negotiations on Ukraine’s accession to the EU, the expert community is actively discussing how to make the process truly constructive. Ukraine will have to manage both the external negotiations with the 27 EU countries and the internal reform process. One significant challenge is the government’s institutional capacity for negotiations and the unfinished reform of public administration. This is just one of many challenges Ukraine faces. Read on to learn more.
Reconstruction, reform: European integration require irreversible changes
On 14 May, the Council of the European Union finalised the Ukraine Plan, necessary for the implementation of the Ukraine Facility programme. Yuliia Svyrydenko, Economy Minister of Ukraine, talks about the investment tool of the programme – the Ukraine Investment Framework (UIF) – which Ukrainian businesses will be able to use. How will it work for businesses, who will be able to apply and how, and what funding can they receive?
ECONOMY, FINANCE, BUSINESS
EU Council approves confiscation of profits from Russian assets in favour of Ukraine
Executive Vice-President for an Economy that Works for People, Valdis Dombrovskis, said: « The EU has chosen a way forward that is legally sound and flexible, so that support can adjust to Ukraine’s most pressing needs. Speed remains of the essence, and the Commission will continue making all efforts to allow the first payment to be made already in July.”
The EU is the largest donor of budget assistance to Ukraine
The European Union is the largest donor of budget assistance to Ukraine, having provided close to EUR 32 billion since February 2022. Over the 10 years of Russia’s war against Ukraine, financial support from the EU has already reached more than EUR 37 billion, and the lion’s share of it came after February 2022, when Russia launched the full-scale invasion. The EU provides Ukraine with equally strong support in the security, humanitarian, and financial spheres.
EU supports Ukrainian energy sector
On 6 May, the European Commissioner for Energy, Kadri Simson, met with the Energy Minister of Ukraine, Herman Halushchenko, in Kyiv. They discussed ways to strengthen the resilience of the Ukrainian energy system and prepare for the next heating season. Among other things, the issue of coordinating international cooperation to increase pressure on Russia and oust the aggressor from the world energy markets was discussed.
Rémi Duflot:
We will support the media that tell the truth
Rémi Duflot, Deputy Head of the EU Delegation to Ukraine, announced at the 10th Lviv Media Forum that the European Union has allocated EUR 15 million to support 150 Ukrainian national and regional media outlets, including efforts to protect journalists. The EU recognises the critical importance of journalists’ work and supports Ukrainian media at both national and regional levels.
SUPPORT FOR THE PUBLIC SECTOR
Reliable ‘checkpoint’ for veterans of the Ukrainian army
On 1 May, a rehabilitation space for veterans of the Ukrainian Army, ‘Checkpoint’, opened its doors in Zaporizhzhia. At ‘Checkpoint’, former military personnel and their families can receive psychological support, sports rehabilitation, and legal and business counselling to open start-ups.
The project also provides training for volunteers to help veterans and their families tackle urgent problems. ‘Checkpoint’ Zaporizhzhia prioritises inclusiveness for vulnerable groups of veterans and their families, and the team includes a sign language interpreter.
SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, EDUCATION
Artificial intelligence under legal control
The Council of Europe has adopted a Framework Convention on Artificial Intelligence and Human Rights, Democracy and the Rule of Law (the ‘Convention’). It is the first legally binding document on artificial intelligence. The document covers all aspects of the use and risks associated with the use of AI in the context of respect for human rights, respect for democratic standards, and the rule of law. It is also open for accession to countries outside the EU.
Scientists for local municipalities
On 24 May 2024, the final event of the EU ‘Educational Open Space for Students and Community’ (EDUSPACE) project on ‘The third mission of the displaced educational institution’ took place at Mariupol State University. The staff of the Mariupol State University and Donetsk State University of Internal Affairs launched the EDUSPACE project in Donetsk, but due to Russia’s full scale war, were forced to relocate. The project’s achievements will therefore be available to the municipalities where these higher education institutions are currently operating.
SECURITY FOR ALL
Non-bot chat ‘Unsee’ already receives 673 reports
‘Unsee’, a child-friendly non-bot Telegram chat that allows teenagers to quickly and anonymously complain about inappropriate online content, has been launched in Ukraine with EU support. The tool was developed by the Child Well-being Fund together with the Juvenile Prevention of Ukraine, as part of the EU-funded project ‘Empowering law enforcement in overcoming online violence against children’.