The path of Ukraine’s European integration will depend not only on internal reforms but also on the ability to work effectively and convince external partners to support the country’s EU membership. This belief is shared by Marina Kaljurand, a Member of the European Parliament from Estonia and former Minister of Foreign Affairs (2015–2016).

Welcome a new partnership special project by the RPR Coalition and Espreso! Over the next two months, we will engage with MEPs from various countries to explore the challenges Ukraine may face on its path to the EU.

In the first interview with Espreso, MEP Marina Kaljurand emphasized that Ukraine urgently needs to engage with skeptical countries, shift its approach to reforms by highlighting their benefits to society, and improve communication with its own citizens. Strengthened engagement with Ukrainians would not only facilitate the implementation of complex reforms but also ensure consistent public support for the European course.

Ukraine’s European path remains the country’s strategic direction despite obstacles stemming from Russia’s aggression and internal challenges. Progress in meeting European requirements will be crucial for Ukraine and could serve as a persuasive argument to overcome skepticism from certain countries.

Marina Kaljurand stresses that to avoid mistakes and accelerate the process, Ukraine could benefit from the positive experiences of other countries, particularly the Baltic states, which faced internal pressures and Russia’s attempts to discredit reforms on their way to Europe.

Read about this and much more on the Espreso website.

The material was published within the framework of the project “Democratic Integration, Resilience, and Engagement” (Ukraine-DARE), implemented by Democracy Reporting International (DRI) in cooperation with the Reanimation Package of Reforms Coalition and the Center for Political and Legal Reforms with the financial support of the Federal Foreign Office of Germany. The project aims to facilitate the approximation of Ukrainian legislation to the EU norms, build a dialogue on the challenges to democracy in Ukraine during the war, and promote civic engagement of young people. The opinions and views expressed in this material do not necessarily reflect the position of the Federal Foreign Office of Germany.