BRUSELAS, 2 Feb. (EUROPA PRESS) –
The Commissioner for Budget and Administration of the European Union (EU), 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 ” which represents his adherence to the bloc.
This roadmap 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 this Thursday of fifteen European commissioners to kyiv, who seeks to deal face to face with the Ukrainian government the progress in joining the EU.
European sources point out that the ‘Priority Action Plan for an Improved Implementation of the Free Trade Area for 2023-2024’, is the key document to guide the path to the EU for Ukraine and follows the path of other plans to advance in the relationship with kyiv.
This plan focuses on trade and economic measures, customs, industrial products and telecommunications, which, together with Ukraine’s participation in tax, digital and research programs, seeks greater integration into the European economy and facilitate alignment with the acquis communautaire .
In a debate in the European Parliament, the person in charge of the Budget has stated that this offer to extend kyiv’s participation in European programs has the objective of “strengthening its economy” and promoting its integration into the internal market. Thus, Hahn has detailed that the offer will include an exemption for Ukraine to contribute funds to European programs while it remains in a financial situation complicated by the war in Ukraine.
The Austrian commissioner has indicated that the ‘road map’ marks some steps to follow, advising in any case that the community path is a “long road” and not a “sprint”. “Ukraine’s place is Europe. We are going to continue supporting Ukraine in all this drive for reforms”, he has defended before the parliamentarians.