The Head of the Council of Europe Office in Ukraine Maciej Janczak, with the anti-discrimination project team participated in the forum "Ukraine’s EU Accession: Shaping the Transformational Agenda" on 7 February in Kyiv. The event gathered representatives from state authorities, the European Union, and international organisations to discuss key governance and rule-of-law reforms necessary for Ukraine's EU membership.
The Head of Office reaffirmed the Council of Europe’s unwavering support for Ukraine's European integration, notably on the negotiating Chapter 23 and its equality domain. This includes expert assistance in developing roadmaps, the provision of expertise for aligning national legislation with European standards, and organizing training and capacity-building programs for civil servants, law enforcement, and judiciary staff.
The joint EU and Council of Europe project "Support for implementing European standards relating to anti-discrimination and rights of national minorities in Ukraine" plays a crucial role in this process. The project provides expert support to the Government Office for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration, the Ministry of Justice, and the DESS. It has contributed to preparations for the screening meetings under Chapter 23 and continues to support the development of roadmaps in key areas, including LGBTIQ rights, anti-discrimination, the protection of national minorities, hate crimes and hate speech, and combating racism. Additionally, the project continues to provide expert support in developing the Action Plan for the protection of persons belonging to National Minorities, which is a part of the negotiation framework for Ukraine’s EU accession and will define Ukraine’s further commitments in the protection of national minorities.
Forum participants highlighted the importance of aligning all strategic documents with European standards – the EU acquis but also those of the Council of Europe - to ensure the effective fulfilment of commitments within the negotiation process. As European Commissioner for Enlargement, Marta Kos, stated: “The European Commission is actively working to ensure that the negotiation process is as efficient as possible, enabling Ukraine to receive the ‘green light’ for opening the fundamental cluster of negotiations.”
Deputy Minister of Justice for European Integration, Liudmyla Suhak, presented the strategic priorities of the Roadmaps, outlining key reform directions in the judicial system, anti-corruption measures, human rights protection, fundamental rights and public security. These Roadmaps are based on issues identified during the screening of Ukrainian legislation in dialogue with the EU and incorporate recommendations outlined by the European Commission for Ukraine.
As a key partner to Ukraine’s state institutions in the European integration process, the Council of Europe Office in Ukraine will continue to provide expert support to ensure the effective implementation of reforms in line with European standards and legal frameworks.
