On November 10, Deputy Foreign Minister of Ukraine Yevhen Perebyinis took part online in the opening of the 17th meeting of the EU-Ukraine Parliamentary Association Committee, taking place on November 10-11 in Brussels.

In his statement, Deputy Minister thanked the European Parliament for its leadership in maintaining comprehensive support and solidarity with Ukraine in repelling Russia’s full-scale war of aggression.

Yevhen Perebyinis informed the participants about the current security situation in Ukraine and the consequences of Russian attacks on the energy system and stressed that today EU assistance in protecting and recovering energy infrastructure is more important than ever. He also informed about diplomatic efforts to establish a just and lasting peace for our country, an integral part of which is the provision of effective security guarantees to Ukraine. Yevhen Perebyinis emphasized that Ukraine’s membership in the EU is one of the key guarantees of security and future peace.

Deputy Minister stressed that Ukraine has fulfilled the conditions for opening the first, second and sixth clusters in the negotiation process for accession to the EU. In this context, Yevhen Perebyinis thanked the European Parliament for approving signals regarding the need to open negotiation clusters, as well as for calling on the Hungarian government to unblock this process.

At the meeting, Deputy Minister also emphasized the importance of increasing EU sanctions pressure on Russia to deprive it of the ability to continue the war. In this regard, he noted the relevant calls of the European Parliament to the EU Member States and expressed hope that the EU would soon approve the 20th package of sanctions.

In the context of financial stability, the representative of Ukraine emphasized the importance of the approval by the EU Member States of the decision to provide Ukraine with a reparations loan and invest in the Ukrainian defence industry to guarantee security in the region.

In addition, the participants discussed the EU's sustainable support in the context of countering Russian military aggression against Ukraine, holding Russia accountable for the crimes of aggression, the EU's role in economic deterrence of Russian war of aggression, Ukraine's progress on its path to joining the EU, and strengthening inter-parliamentary cooperation.

Background:

The Parliamentary Association Committee was established in accordance with Article 467 of the Association Agreement between Ukraine and the EU and is a forum for the exchange of views between members of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine and the European Parliament.

The Parliamentary Association Committee consists of members of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine and members of the European Parliament. The Head of the EP Delegation is Pekka Toveri (Finland), the Head of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine Delegation is Vadym Halaychuk. Representatives of the Government of Ukraine, the European Commission and the European External Action Service are also involved in the meeting.