Vice PM Stefanishyna: Europe will also benefit from Ukraine's membership in EU and NATO

Vice Prime Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration of Ukraine Olha Stefanishyna is convinced that Ukraine and Europe will equally benefit from Ukraine's membership in the EU and NATO.

"I have no doubt that Ukraine and the whole of united Europe will benefit equally from Ukraine's long-awaited membership in the EU and NATO. And the integration of our economy into the internal market of the European Union is already the best tool for combating monopolies and the possibility of creating a competitive economy. This is a real driver of change. Ukraine's progress in implementing the Association Agreement should be accompanied by expanding access to the European market for Ukrainian business," Stefanishyna said during a meeting with Michael Roth, Minister of State for Europe at the German Federal Foreign Office, during a working visit to Germany, Ukrinform reports with reference to the Government portal.

She stressed that despite the coronavirus pandemic and Russia's aggression in Donbas, the Ukrainian Government and Parliament, with the political support of the President, continue pursuing structural reforms, including in the banking sector, land reform, energy transformation, and privatization. Judicial reform remains the biggest challenge.

Stefanishyna confirmed that Ukraine highly appreciated Germany's consistent position on Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity.

The Vice PM also underlined the importance of shaping the EU's strategic vision for the Eastern Neighborhood Policy within the framework of the Conference on the Future of Europe scheduled for May.

As reported, on March 17, Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal announced that the Government delegation was leaving for Germany, where the talks at the highest level and participation in the 4th Ukraine-German Business Forum were planned.

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