What to expect from today's Ukraine-EU summit

Today, on February 3, 2023, Kyiv will host the Ukraine-EU summit. It is expected that the first assessment of the implementation of the recommendations for accession to the European Union may be voiced at the summit.

According to RBC-Ukraine, the Kyiv summit will be attended by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, members of the government, head of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen, and president of the European Council Charles Michel.

It is also known that a large delegation from Brussels includes 15 of the 27 members of the European Commission. The day before, they held a joint meeting with representatives of the Ukrainian government.

The key topic is Ukraine's readiness to begin accession negotiations with the EU. At the moment, the Ukrainian side is preparing to present the results of the implementation of the EU recommendations. And expects a positive response.

"The key issue on the agenda should be the prospect of the earliest possible start of the negotiation process for accession to the EU, after Ukraine has implemented all the recommendations of the EC and received a positive assessment," Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said the other day.

In addition, the summit will raise the following topics:

• tightening sanctions against Russia (in the field of nuclear energy, missile production, and drones)

• security situation

• Ukrainian "peace formula"

• bringing Russia to justice for war crimes

• progress in the issues of integration into the EU internal market

• cooperation in the energy sphere

It is planned to sign a number of documents pertaining to specific sectors at the summit. EU Ambassador Matti Maasikas also noted that a wide range of issues would be discussed. According to him, Brussels will first of all send a signal of solidarity with Kyiv.

Today Ukraine may get an assessment of implementation of the recommendations of the European Commission, which is a condition for its accession to the EU. With obtaining the candidate status, the country has pledged to do its "homework" to implement reforms in different spheres.

Presumably, today's assessment will tell us what stage Ukraine is at. But without the implementation of the above recommendations, it will not be possible to begin accession negotiations with the EU.

As for Ukraine, it wants to start preliminary negotiations before the end of 2023. According to Foreign Minister Kuleba, it is likely that the implementation of the recommendations of the European Commission will be finalized as early as this spring.

Author – Anastasiya Glotova, 03/02/2022