On 11 December, with the assistance of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine and the Zakarpattia Regional State Administration, the heads of diplomatic missions of the European Union member states accredited in Ukraine visited Zakarpattia. The visit was aimed at reviewing the situation in the region in the context of Ukraine's implementation of one of the seven recommendations of the European Commission to reform the legal framework on national minorities.

During the visit to the Reformed Church in Berehove, the delegation met with the bishops of the Zakarpattia Reformed Church, invited leaders of the Mukachevo Roman Catholic Diocese and the Mukachevo Greek Catholic Diocese. During the conversation with the clergy, the diplomatic corps learned about the religious composition of the population of Zakarpattia, the life and activities of local religious communities. The ambassadors of the EU countries were particularly interested in the fact that it was during the period of Ukraine's independence that local churches received a real opportunity for their development, including the holding of services in the native languages of their parishioners.

In the village of Velyka Palad, the delegation visited «Karpat-Pack». The company uses unique technologies to manufacture packaging containers, including for storing and transporting construction materials, and exports its products to 25 foreign countries. Ninety per cent of the company's employees are ethnic Hungarians.

During the visit, the heads of diplomatic missions of the EU member states spoke with educators who teach in Hungarian-language educational institutions in the region and with leaders of the local Hungarian community. They visited the Matthias Corvinus Collegium, the Ferenc Rakoczy II Zakarpattia-Hungarian Institute, and lyceum No. 4 in Berehove.

In response to their questions about the attitude of ethnic Hungarians in Zakarpattia to the recent amendments to a number of laws on national minorities adopted by the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, the diplomats heard a unanimous positive assessment of this step. This was expressed, in particular, by the head of the Democratic Union of Hungarians of Ukraine, Laslo Zubanych, the mayor of Berehove, Zoltan Babiak, teachers of the Ferenc Rakoczy Zakarpattia-Hungarian Institute, and teachers of Hungarian-language schools.

Following the visit, the heads of EU diplomatic missions noted the significant progress that Ukraine has made on the path to European integration in recent years.

"New legislative package on national minorities well received by local authorities and minority leaders in Berehove. This is an important signal before the European Council session. Future of Ukraine is in the European Union," said EU Ambassador to Ukraine Katarina Mathernova.