Addressing the second Committee-to-Committee Meeting of the European Parliament and the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, the President of the European Parliament Roberta Metsola said that whilst Ukraine has proven with significant progress on reforms that they are ready for accelerated accession talks to move further, our Parliament’s response is equally clear: our Union must continue to move ahead with even more resolve and action.
Speaker Stefanchuk, dear Ruslan, Dear Chair Lange, dear Bernd, Dear Chairs, dear friends,
We are now entering the third year of our collaboration. Since our first meeting, our institutions have worked very closely together in order to advance Ukraine’s journey towards European Union membership. Progressing on policies ranging from agriculture to transport.
For many of you here, today will be the first time you will have all met following the European elections last June. This is an opportunity for us to get to know each other, to familiarise yourselves with how each of our institutions work and to align on policies and priorities as Committee Chairs so that we can all build on the momentum created so far.
Dear Ukrainian colleagues: I understand that you are doing all of this under the most devastating conditions possible. Working tirelessly throughout years of brutal war not just to meet the needs of your country and your people, but to bring Ukraine’s legislation in line with the European acquis.
From our side, the European Union remains firm and unwavering in its support for Ukraine’s fight for freedom. Our Parliament reaffirmed this last month with a resolution committing to Russian accountability for war crimes and for a just, genuine and lasting peace for Ukraine. One that is built on the principles laid out by President Zelenskyy.
Part of this future is Ukraine’s rightful place in the European family – and this meeting recommits our two legislatures to this ultimate goal. You can be proud of Ukraine’s already significant progress along this path, with an ambitious reform agenda that brings you closer to alignment with our Union. Let me here thank everyone in the Verkhovna Rada, and especially you, dear Ruslan and Chairs, for all your hard work in making this happen. This week, I will be meeting with Prime Minister Shmyhal to discuss the next steps in Ukraine’s accession process. Ukraine’s message to Europe is loud and clear: you have proven that you are ready to go further, faster, on the road to accession. And our House’s response is equally clear: our Union must move ahead with even more resolve and action, opening the first fundamentals cluster that will form the bedrock of Ukraine’s Membership.
In this House we will do all we can to support the Verkhovna Rada in your work: because Ukraine’s democracy is this House’s priority. The renewed Memorandum of Understanding that I signed together with Speaker Stefanchuk in November 2023 is proof of this unbreakable relationship.
Over the coming weeks, months and years our committees, will continue to work together to put this ambition into action. Staying in regular contact, learning from each other and demonstrating in practice our close and connected relationship.
Of course, there are many challenges that still need to be overcome on the road ahead. But you are not travelling alone: the knowledge and expertise of our legislature is always at your disposal. Many of our Members here today have experienced first-hand the process of joining our Union. We are there to support you at every step of the way: in bad times, and in good. For I am confident that our best days are ahead of us, in a Europe of unity and peace.
Thank you. You can read the President's speech in Ukrainian here.