On June 15, in Luxembourg, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Yevhen Perebyinis, as part of the delegation headed by Deputy Prime Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration of Ukraine Taras Kachka, took part in the work of the second Ukraine-EU Intergovernmental Conference. The government delegation also included First Deputy Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine Oleksandr Kornienko and Deputy Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine Ihor Zhovkva.

During the Conference, the first negotiation cluster, “Fundamentals,” was officially opened, which covers the issues of the rule of law, the functioning of democratic institutions, the provision of fundamental rights and freedoms, as well as the reform of the public administration system.

The opening of this cluster marks the beginning of the substantive stage of the negotiation process on Ukraine's accession to the European Union and is an important evidence of the recognition by the European Union of the significant progress of our country in fulfilling the necessary membership criteria. This decision confirms the EU's unwavering support for Ukraine's European perspective and reflects the common political will to further deepen Ukraine's integration into the European political, economic and legal space.

Despite the ongoing full-scale armed aggression of the russian federation against Ukraine, our country continues to consistently implement a set of reforms and ensure the approximation of national legislation to the EU acquis.

The "Fundamentals" cluster is decisive for the entire negotiation process, as it covers key areas that form the foundation of the functioning of a democratic state and are basic for advancing negotiations in other areas. Its opening creates the necessary prerequisites for further dynamic advancement of negotiations on Ukraine's membership in the EU.

The next stage will be the implementation of the identified tasks within Cluster 1 and preparation for the opening of the next negotiation clusters. Ukraine is counting on maintaining the high dynamics of the negotiation process and further consolidated support from EU member states on the path to gaining full membership in the EU.