EU supports reform roadmaps adopted by Ukraine

EU Enlargement Commissioner Marta Kos has said that EU institutions support three reform roadmaps adopted by Ukraine as part of preparations to open accession talks, describing them as a "joint product".

The three roadmaps, which were adopted by the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine (Ukrainian government) back in the summer, cover the rule of law, public administration reform, and the functioning of democratic institutions.

Approval and endorsement of these three documents are defined in the European Union's negotiating framework for Ukraine as indicators for opening negotiations under Cluster 1 – Fundamentals. Legally, however, they have so far been approved only by Ukraine, not by the European side.

Marta Kos said, answering a question from European Pravda after a meeting organised by the Council of the EU in the city of Lviv, that the roadmaps have the EU's blessing.

"Of course they are blessed [by the EU – ed.]. We prepared these documents hand in hand with Ukraine." Kos said.

Taras Kachka, Ukraine's Deputy Prime Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration, who took part in the press conference with Commissioner Kos, also confirmed the government's intention to implement these documents.

"The roadmaps should be implemented not only as a substance, but also within the deadlines [for implementing the reforms – ed.] that are in these roadmaps," Kachka said.

All three roadmaps have been published by the government and can be found here (in Ukrainian): the rule of law; public administration reform; functioning of democratic institutions.

At the informal meeting in Lviv of the EU's General Affairs Council, the EU announced the launch of frontloading, a new format of technical talks with Ukraine that would not be vulnerable to a Hungarian veto.

Read more: Frontloading: EU's alternative path to break Hungary's veto on Ukraine's accession talks