The European Union (EU) Commissioner for Budget and Administration, Johannes Hahn, said Thursday that the European Commission will offer Ukraine to strengthen its participation in European programs to facilitate its integration into the single market, pending the «long road» represented by its accession to the bloc.
This road map will be the central element discussed by the President of the European Executive, Ursula von der Leyen, and the Ukrainian President, Volodimir Zelenski, during the visit of about fifteen European Commissioners to Kiev on Thursday, which aims to discuss face to face with the Ukrainian government the progress in the accession to the EU.
European sources say the ‘Priority Action Plan for Enhanced Implementation of the Free Trade Area for 2023-2024’, is the key document to guide Ukraine’s path to the EU and follows the path of other plans to advance the relationship with Kiev.
This plan focuses on trade and economic measures, customs, industrial products and telecommunications, which together with Ukraine’s participation in fiscal, digital and research programs aims to further integrate Ukraine into the European economy and facilitate alignment with the acquis communautaire.
In a debate in the European Parliament, the budget official said that this offer to extend Kiev’s participation in European programs is aimed at «strengthening its economy» and promoting its integration into the internal market. Thus, Hahn detailed that the offer will include an exemption for Ukraine to contribute funds to European programs while it remains in a complicated financial situation due to the war in Ukraine.
The Austrian commissioner has indicated that the ‘road map’ marks some steps to follow, warning in any case that the Community path is a «long road» and not a «sprint». «Ukraine’s place is Europe. We will continue to support Ukraine in all this reform drive», he defended before the parliamentarians.
Source: (EUROPA PRESS)
