The economic forecast turns out to be very positive.

After a drop of around 29% last year, the economy is projected to grow by 0.6% this year and 4.0% in 2024," according to European Commissioner for Economic Affairs Paolo Gentiloni, who presented the data.

Gentiloni stated that the economy of Ukraine, attacked by Russia, has shown "the immense shock, but also the tremendous resilience." However, the forecast for Ukraine "is subject to all the caveats you would expect in the current wartime situation," the European Commission acknowledges in its spring report.

The European Commission notes that its forecast publication includes, for the first time, an overview of the structural features of the economy, recent indicators, and prospects for Ukraine, Moldova, and Bosnia and Herzegovina, which were granted candidate status for EU membership in June and December 2022.

As previously reported, the European Commission will publish a preliminary assessment in June (Ukr) of Ukraine's progress in the reforms necessary to open negotiations on EU membership.

According to a survey by a consortium of Ukrainian analytical centers, Ukraine's overall score for meeting "Eurointegration" criteria was 6.8 out of 10, surpassing two-thirds of the criteria.

That's why the beginning of negotiations on EU accession in 2023 appears to be realistic. Read more: "Seven EU Requirements for Ukraine: Accession Negotiations Getting Closer"