The event brought together senior representatives of the Government and Parliament of Ukraine, the European Union, and EU Member States, alongside leaders of Ukraine’s business, academic, and expert communities. It was co-organized by the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration of Ukraine and Ukraine2EU Programme.
The event was addressed by Taras Kachka, Deputy Prime Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration of Ukraine; Marta Kos, EU Commissioner for Enlargement; and Marie Bjerre, Minister for European Affairs of Denmark; Oleksandr Korniyenko, First Deputy Chairperson of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine. They underlined the central role of Ukraine’s economy and private sector engagement in advancing the accession process.
As Ukraine adapts its institutional, legal, and economic governance systems to meet the Copenhagen criteria, the Government is set to advance policies that support and engage businesses, enabling them to adapt, build resilience, and prepare for integration into the EU.
The Deputy Prime Minister announced that today’s event marked the start of a series of regional and sectoral dialogues with the business community to strengthen constructive engagement on Ukraine’s EU accession: “This gathering marks the start of a systematic and structured conversation with Ukraine’s business community. Over the next months, we will engage through sectoral and regional roundtables – in industries such as steel, agriculture, transport, energy, chemicals, and pharmaceuticals – and explore other formats of engagement. We need your ideas, knowledge, and strategies to ensure that Ukraine’s reforms truly serve the interests of Ukrainian business”.
For participating companies, these dialogues will provide a concrete opportunity to shape policy – helping ensure that reforms not only meet EU requirements but also strengthen competitiveness and open new opportunities.
EU Commissioner Marta Kos emphasized the historic nature of Ukraine’s European path, stressing that it is not merely a technical process but a profound transformation of the state and the economy: “Ukraine’s path to EU membership is a profound political and societal transformation. Ensuring the rule of law and strong democratic institutions is central to this journey. They guarantee citizens’ rights, they create a business environment that attracts investment, and they guarantee that reconstruction serves the people.This gives confidence that Ukraine’s future lies firmly within the European family.”
From the perspective of the current Presidency of the Council of the EU, Denmark’s Minister for European Affairs Marie Bjerre underlined that keeping enlargement high on the political agenda is a strategic priority, despite Hungary’s continued blocking of the opening of clusters for Ukraine: “Ukraine’s determination to reform is not only admirable – it is essential for its EU path. Under Denmark’s Presidency, enlargement and EU competitiveness are strategic priorities. Every reform Ukraine undertakes to strengthen the rule of law and boost investor confidence lays the groundwork for the future integration into the Single Market. When the day of membership comes, Ukraine will stand on a stronger foundation of both democratic values and economic strength – to the benefit of both Ukraine and the EU.”
Oleksandr Korniyenko, First Deputy Chairperson of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, stressed the importance of continuous dialogue: “Dialogue is an exchange of ideas. And in the fourth active year of our European integration track, we already have much to discuss substantively – in particular, what EU membership should mean for us: for the entire Ukrainian people and for all sectors, including business and the economy. Such dialogues must move out of offices and the center of the capital into communities, and be held at enterprises and production sites with the participation of citizens.”
The discussion also highlighted Ukraine’s progress on the Copenhagen economic criteria and its implications for business. H.E. Inga Stanytė-Toločkienė, Ambassador of Lithuania to Ukraine, shared her country’s experience and stressed that stronger institutions – reinforced through comprehensive EU-integration reforms – create a more level playing field for all businesses.
Business representatives emphasized that clear legislative guidance, financial resources, and knowledge are essential, especially in the context of preparing for entry into the EU Single Market. They underlined that the business community is ready to contribute practical expertise and feedback to help ensure that reforms are implemented effectively and create the conditions for companies to adapt, grow, and compete successfully in the EU market.
Background Note
The High-Level Dialogue was organized by the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration of Ukraine in cooperation with the Ukraine2EU Programme (EU Integration Support Programme for Ukraine), in partnership with the Reform Delivery Office of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine and the Kyiv School of Economics.
Ukraine2EU (EU Integration Support Programme for Ukraine) is a flagship EU initiative, funded by the European Union, Denmark, Lithuania, and Sweden, designed to support Ukraine in its accession process by providing strategic guidance and expert support to national authorities as they lead the reform process.
