Ukraine has completed all the steps listed by the European Commission in its 2022 conclusion on granting our country the status of an EU candidate.
This is evidenced by the draft report of the European Commission on Ukraine, Yevropeyska Pravda reports.
The document noted the efforts of our country regarding the rights of national minorities, including the adoption of the law on national minorities adopted last December. At the same time, Hungary considers Ukraine's progress in this area insufficient.
The European Commission noted that ‘restrictions on fundamental rights related to martial law remain generally proportionate’.
The EU executive body also drew attention to the fact that our state ‘continued to promote integrity and merit in the judiciary’ and ‘strengthen the anti-corruption institutional framework and increase the results of high-level law enforcement in corruption cases’.
The European Commission noted the ratification of the Rome Statute and stressed the need to bring national legislation into line. As for the screening, the verification of Ukrainian legislation for compliance with the European one is ‘progressing smoothly’.
The EC stressed that despite progress in fundamental reforms, ‘further efforts are needed’. In particular, our country ‘should continue to focus on further developing a strong law enforcement record in high-level corruption cases... and strengthen the fight against organised crime’.
Other recommendations include working on the further implementation of the updated legislation on the rights of national minorities in close cooperation with them; improving public administration and decentralisation reforms; and introducing measures to support infrastructure repair and reconstruction.
‘If Ukraine fulfils all the conditions, the Commission looks forward to opening negotiations on clusters (negotiating chapters - Ed.), starting with the basics, as soon as possible in 2025,’ the draft report says.