Platform for Reconstruction should help Ukraine move towards EU – von der Leyen
The joint EU–Ukraine efforts within the framework of the Platform for Reconstruction should help the country move towards the EU.
President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen made a corresponding statement after the talks with President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky in Kyiv, an Ukrinform correspondent reports.
Ursula von der Leyen noted that many topics were discussed at the meeting with the President of Ukraine, including joint work on the Platform for Reconstruction of Ukraine.
"With the help of this platform, we want to create a common direction of movement, to have a clear road map of how to synchronize our joint work on the reconstruction of Ukraine to help it rise from the ruins," said the President of the European Commission.
According to her, this process should be fully led by Ukraine, while the European Commission has extensive experience in managing such situations and investments in reforms.
"We want to ensure reforms that will improve the lives of Ukrainians, so that we can rebuild Ukraine and make it attractive for investment and doing business, and so that Ukraine can move towards the European Union," said the President of the European Commission.
She added that, of course, Ukraine had already been moving properly towards the EU until Russia’s "horrible brutal aggression" began.
Ursula von der Leyen also noted that the need for further steps by the Ukrainian government to strengthen the rule of law and fight corruption had been discussed with the President of Ukraine.
“More needs to be done. Understand me correctly. Ukraine is at war now, so your efforts and our support are focused on overcoming this terrible war. And through reconstruction, we want to see how we will move forward and what needs to be done. For example, you have done a lot to strengthen the rule of law, but there are still reforms that need to be implemented to, for example, fight corruption," she said.
As noted, anti-corruption institutions have been established in Ukraine in recent years, but now "the results are needed."
"We discussed all these issues at our working session," said the President of the European Commission.
As reported, President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen is on a working visit to Kyiv on June 11.
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