European Commissioner for Enlargement, Marta Kos, has responded to our joint appeal — submitted with our partners — calling for intensified efforts to open the first negotiation cluster, “Fundamentals”.

We received a clear signal from the European Commission that Ukraine’s civil society efforts in objectively monitoring the country’s fulfillment of EU integration requirements will be taken into account and will contribute to decisive and swift action to move the negotiations into a practical phase.

Indeed, we agree with the EU’s approved assessment methodology, which is based on reform results. That is why, as an independent third party, we affirm that the Ukrainian state has already fulfilled its part of the work needed to open the first negotiation cluster. Now it is time for the EU to do its part — including overcoming certain internal resistance that offers no constructive value for either party and instead serves the interests of an external actor.

Through joint efforts, we must move toward decisions that benefit both Ukraine — as a candidate country — and the EU as a whole. We urge everyone to maintain momentum and continue advancing our country along the path of European development.

We extend our thanks to the co-initiators of the appeal — the Ukrainian Centre for European Policy and the Centre of Policy and Legal Reform — as well as to all signatories.