European Commission recommends opening negotiations
In Brussels on 8 November, President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen announced the assessment of Ukraine and Moldova’s progress on their path towards EU membership, stating: ’Today is a historic day, because the European Commission recommends the Council to open accession negotiations with Ukraine and Moldova.’
According to von der Leyen, Kyiv has completed more than 90% of the necessary steps provided last year when Ukraine received candidate status for EU membership.
Charles Michel:
The first step must be taken now
President of the European Council, Charles Michel, paid a visit to Ukraine on the 10th anniversary of the Revolution of Dignity.
The visit took place on the eve of the summit of the European Council in the middle of December, where EU leaders are set to discuss the recommendation of the European Commission to open official negotiations on Ukraine’s accession. ‘I will do everything in my power to convince 27 colleagues, leaders of EU Member States, that we need a positive decision in December,’ said Charles Michel. ‘The first step needs to be taken now.’
Time for change
SECURITY SUPPORT
Ammunition for Ukraine:
EU is determined to achieve its goals
The European Union and its Member States have already provided Ukraine with EUR 27 billion worth of military assistance, an unprecedented amount. The EU invested EUR 2 billion from the European Peace Facility to ensure the delivery of ammunition to the Armed Forces of Ukraine. Ukraine already received at least 300 000 rounds of ammunition from the stocks of EU countries; also, new agreements on new joint procurements have been signed. ‘This joint EU initiative is a new step on the way to truly European defence,’ says Charles Michel.
Sanctions without compromises
VOX POPULI
Informed choice:
65% Ukrainians trust the EU
Numerous sociological surveys prove that joining the EU is an informed choice for Ukrainians: for 77% of respondents, it is important that Ukraine becomes an EU Member, and for 51%, it is extremely important to join the EU.
Ukrainian citizens are moderate in their assessment of Ukraine’s readiness to join the EU: only 22% believe that the country is fully ready for this step, while 43% emphasise the need for reforms. Read the article to find out why Ukrainians want to be a part of the EU and what concerns they have.
ECONOMY, FINANCE, BUSINESS
Ukraine Facility:
Funding in return for reforms
The government plans to cover nearly half of Ukraine’s financial needs through the EU’s new Ukraine Facility Programme. The programme, with a budget of EUR 50 billion, is designed for a four-year period. For it to take effect, the EU needs to approve its main condition by January, the reform package submitted by Ukraine, which the country undertakes to implement in four years. On 3 November, the European Commission receive a draft of the plan.
GOOD GOVERNANCE
An initiative on expanding the rights and opportunities of municipalities for Ukraine: Let’s rebuild!
ЕКОНОМІЧНА ПРАВДА
Two municipalities in Zakarpattia receive EU grants
Grant contracts for a total funding of EUR 500,000 for two humanitarian projects were signed in Berehove, Zakarpattia. The funding comes from cross-border cooperation programme ‘Hungary-Slovakia-Romania- Ukraine 2014-2020’, which has decided to allocate its remaining budget for these two projects in Zakarpattia. The funds were allocated without a competition, through a direct award. The grants will be used for the ‘Better Future’ humanitarian project, and a programme that is being implemented by the Hungarian Ecumenical Service, the Transcarpathian Centre for Development and Counselling ‘Advance’, and NGO ‘Social Centre ETALON’.
Buses for Ukrainian school students
On 4 November, President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen, First Lady of Ukraine Olena Zelenska, and President of Solidarity Fund PL Rafal Dzieciolowski attended the official handover ceremony of the EU solidarity campaign ‘School buses for Ukraine’. The school buses were officially handed over to representatives of local authorities from the Kyiv, Sumy, Mykolaiv, Dnipropetrovsk, Lviv and Chernihiv oblasts.
370 school buses will be delivered to Ukraine under the ‘School buses for Ukraine’ solidarity campaign.