The European integration movement of Ukraine: the readiness of business and the state

22/ 10/ 2024

On October 17, the European Business Association held the conference Ukraine on the Path to the EU, bringing together businesses, government officials, members of parliament, and European diplomats. The discussion focused on the readiness of both business and the state for integration into the European Union, exploring the tasks, challenges, and opportunities associated with Ukraines European integration aspirations. Valdis Dombrovskis, Executive Vice-President of the European Commission, addressed the participants via video, assuring them that Ukraines accession process to the EU will be a priority for the next European Commission. He emphasised that integration into the single market and alignment with standards will open new opportunities for economic growth and benefit both sides. Svitlana Mykhailovska, Deputy Director of the European Business Association, highlighted the business communitys commitment to the European integration course and its readiness to operate under EU market rules. Svitlana also presented the results of a study on the impact of Ukraines European integration on businesses, as well as the ЕВА’s White Paper, which contains proposals for Ukraines economic recovery and integration into the EU single market. Katarína Mathernová, Ambassador of the European Union to Ukraine, emphasised the EU support to Ukraines economy in the context of the full-scale invasion. Besides substantial budget support and financial assistance, the EU is implementing policies to accelerate Ukraines European integration process. She noted Ukraines progress in harmonizing national legislation with EU rules and standards in certain areas of the internal market (such as technical standards). This will not only facilitate Ukraines EU accession path, but can also already bring tangible benefits to Ukraine: in terms of effective economic integration (e.g. through the DCFTA), but also new foreign investments. According to Olena Shuliak, Chairwoman of the Verkhovna Rada Committee on State Governance, Local Self-Government, Regional Development, and Urban Planning, European integration work for the Ukrainian parliament is a major challenge and responsibility. Since the application for EU membership, more than 150 European integration initiatives have been registered in the Verkhovna Rada, with 55 of them already becoming laws. Currently, the Ukraine Facility plan serves as the parliaments roadmap for European integration. Of course, the focus is also on recovery processes, with much attention given to local communities, as the Ukraine Facility includes a section on bringing communities closer to operating under EU standards. Interaction with businesses, both in the context of European integration and recovery, is another crucial task for legislators, as businesses drive and finance many of these processes. Taras Kachka, Deputy Minister of Economy of Ukraine and Trade Representative of Ukraine, pointed out that the further Ukraine progresses on the path to European integration, the more challenging the process will become. Despite the clear benefits of integrating into the single market, Ukraine must also take on many obligations. The government is currently working on a more detailed assessment of how well our legislation aligns with EU requirements. Businesses must also actively participate in these changes and contribute to shaping the negotiating position, as the operating conditions for Ukrainian companies could soon change significantly. During the second panel, representatives from businesses discussed the state and prospects of European integration changes in the areas of taxation, customs, finance, logistics, and various industries, such as the dairy industry and natural resource management. The discussion also covered the benefits created by European integration and how new requirements might complicate and increase the cost of doing business. Panel participants agreed that businesses must play an active role in providing feedback and shaping positions so that European integration processes take into account the real business environment in Ukraine. There was also a discussion about how Ukraine’s reconstruction could follow the principles of the New European Bauhaus, ensuring that EU principles and values become embedded not only in legislation but also in the daily lives of every Ukrainian. We are grateful to all the guests and participants of the discussion, including Olga Balytska, Andriy Borenkov, Anton Tiutiun, Maksym Barabash, Oleksandr Lazarev, Yulia Lazareva, Dmytro Kashchuk, Oleksandr Samokhvalov, and Oleksandr Ilkov, Head of the Government Office for the Coordination of European and Euro-Atlantic Integration. Presentation by Olga Balytska: “Ukraine’s European Integration through the Lens of the New European Bauhaus (NEB): Legal Requirements and Practical Benefits” Presentation by Andriy Borenkov: “How to Overcome Key Challenges in Preparing Projects for Attracting Financing for Businesses through International Programs and Tools” The event was organised with the support of the International Renaissance Foundation and the European Union within the framework of the joint initiative “European Renaissance of Ukraine.” The material reflects the views of the authors and does not necessarily align with the position of the International Renaissance Foundation and the European Union.

On October 17, the European Business Association held the conference “Ukraine on the Path to the EU,” bringing together businesses, government officials, members of parliament, and European diplomats. The discussion focused on the readiness of both business and the state for integration into the European Union, exploring the tasks, challenges, and opportunities associated with Ukraine’s European integration aspirations.

Valdis Dombrovskis, Executive Vice-President of the European Commission, addressed the participants via video, assuring them that Ukraine’s accession process to the EU will be a priority for the next European Commission. He emphasised that integration into the single market and alignment with standards will open new opportunities for economic growth and benefit both sides.

Svitlana Mykhailovska, Deputy Director of the European Business Association, highlighted the business community’s commitment to the European integration course and its readiness to operate under EU market rules. Svitlana also presented the results of a study on the impact of Ukraine’s European integration on businesses, as well as the ЕВА’s White Paper, which contains proposals for Ukraine’s economic recovery and integration into the EU single market.

Katarína Mathernová, Ambassador of the European Union to Ukraine, emphasised the EU support to Ukraine’s economy in the context of the full-scale invasion. Besides substantial budget support and financial assistance, the EU is implementing policies to accelerate Ukraine’s European integration process. She noted Ukraine’s progress in harmonizing national legislation with EU rules and standards in certain areas of the internal market (such as technical standards). This will not only facilitate Ukraine’s EU accession path, but can also already bring tangible benefits to Ukraine: in terms of effective economic integration (e.g. through the DCFTA), but also new foreign investments.

According to Olena Shuliak, Chairwoman of the Verkhovna Rada Committee on State Governance, Local Self-Government, Regional Development, and Urban Planning, European integration work for the Ukrainian parliament is a major challenge and responsibility. Since the application for EU membership, more than 150 European integration initiatives have been registered in the Verkhovna Rada, with 55 of them already becoming laws. Currently, the Ukraine Facility plan serves as the parliament’s roadmap for European integration. Of course, the focus is also on recovery processes, with much attention given to local communities, as the Ukraine Facility includes a section on bringing communities closer to operating under EU standards. Interaction with businesses, both in the context of European integration and recovery, is another crucial task for legislators, as businesses drive and finance many of these processes.

Taras Kachka, Deputy Minister of Economy of Ukraine and Trade Representative of Ukraine, pointed out that the further Ukraine progresses on the path to European integration, the more challenging the process will become. Despite the clear benefits of integrating into the single market, Ukraine must also take on many obligations. The government is currently working on a more detailed assessment of how well our legislation aligns with EU requirements. Businesses must also actively participate in these changes and contribute to shaping the negotiating position, as the operating conditions for Ukrainian companies could soon change significantly.

During the second panel, representatives from businesses discussed the state and prospects of European integration changes in the areas of taxation, customs, finance, logistics, and various industries, such as the dairy industry and natural resource management. The discussion also covered the benefits created by European integration and how new requirements might complicate and increase the cost of doing business. Panel participants agreed that businesses must play an active role in providing feedback and shaping positions so that European integration processes take into account the real business environment in Ukraine.

There was also a discussion about how Ukraine’s reconstruction could follow the principles of the New European Bauhaus, ensuring that EU principles and values become embedded not only in legislation but also in the daily lives of every Ukrainian. We are grateful to all the guests and participants of the discussion, including Olga Balytska, Andriy Borenkov, Anton Tiutiun, Maksym Barabash, Oleksandr Lazarev, Yulia Lazareva, Dmytro Kashchuk, Oleksandr Samokhvalov, and Oleksandr Ilkov, Head of the Government Office for the Coordination of European and Euro-Atlantic Integration.

Presentation by Olga Balytska: “Ukraine’s European Integration through the Lens of the New European Bauhaus (NEB): Legal Requirements and Practical Benefits”

Presentation by Andriy Borenkov: “How to Overcome Key Challenges in Preparing Projects for Attracting Financing for Businesses through International Programs and Tools”

The event was organised with the support of the International Renaissance Foundation and the European Union within the framework of the joint initiative “European Renaissance of Ukraine.” The material reflects the views of the authors and does not necessarily align with the position of the International Renaissance Foundation and the European Union.