Roberta METSOLA, EP President, opens the First Inter-Committee meeting of the European Parliament and the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine. The transcription is the result of an automatic process. Please, check against delivery.

EU - Ukraine (T)

Brussels

meeting

troubles in Ukraine (T)

METSOLA, Roberta (EPP, MT, EP President)

president's agenda

solidarity with Ukraine (T)

STEFANTCHOUK, Rouslan

Ukraine's application for EU membership (T)

consequences of the war in Ukraine (T)

First Inter-Committee meeting of the European Parliament and the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine: Opening address by Roberta METSOLA, EP President

SOUNDBITE (English), Roberta METSOLA, President of the European Parliament, Good morning, dear colleagues. Dear Ruslan, nice to see you, dear Bernt, dear friends, dear chairs of the Committees of the European Parliament. It is my great pleasure to open this first inter committee meeting between the European Parliament and the Verkhovna Rada.

SOUNDBITE (English), Roberta METSOLA, President of the European Parliament, Thank you to all of you chairs of the parliamentary committees from both sides for being here today. This meeting is further proof of our very strong relations of our joint and effective work in practice.

SOUNDBITE (English), Roberta METSOLA, President of the European Parliament, It marks the launch of an in-depth, comprehensive and concrete sectorial cooperation between our two institutions, cooperation that is crucial in view of Ukraine's European path.

SOUNDBITE (English), Roberta METSOLA, President of the European Parliament, That is something that Speaker Stefanchuk and I have discussed and converged over on several occasions, because there is no question that Ukraine's future is as a member of the European Union.

SOUNDBITE (English), Roberta METSOLA, President of the European Parliament, Dear Ukrainian colleagues, let me say how impressed the European Parliament is with the ardent progress that your country is making in implementing the European Commission's seven recommendations for Ukraine's application for European Union membership.

SOUNDBITE (English), Roberta METSOLA, President of the European Parliament, We recognise your commitment and that of President Zelensky and of the Government of Ukraine in this respect, working tirelessly day and night in the most difficult conditions to bring Ukrainian laws in line with the European acquis. And I would like to thank you on behalf of the whole Parliament for that.

SOUNDBITE (English), Roberta METSOLA, President of the European Parliament, My hope is that accession negotiations with Ukraine will be able to start already this year. Rest assured that you will always find a friend and an ally in the European Parliament. Our institutions have already been working hand in hand, including at committee level, to help integrate Ukraine within the European Union.

SOUNDBITE (English), Roberta METSOLA, President of the European Parliament, Today, we are yet again expressing our willingness to take our cooperation and coordination a step further. Since Ukraine became an EU candidate country we have already underlined on multiple occasions the transformational effect of the accession process.

SOUNDBITE (English), Roberta METSOLA, President of the European Parliament, Joining the European Union is not just about transposing legislation, it goes much deeper and far beyond that. And the European Parliament will continue to do its utmost to assist you in the process of Ukrainian integration into the European Union.

SOUNDBITE (English), Roberta METSOLA, President of the European Parliament, With capacity building programmes focussed on legal approximation and practical cooperation between our committees, with our members expertise and knowledge, many of which were themselves involved in their own country's accession negotiations to the European Union.

SOUNDBITE (English), Roberta METSOLA, President of the European Parliament, In a nutshell, all our institutions resources will be available at your disposal. Now, of course, we know the process will not be easy. As representatives of the people, you have the role and responsibility to explain to Ukrainian citizens the need for reforms, often far reaching and painful, even more in times of war.

SOUNDBITE (English), Roberta METSOLA, President of the European Parliament, So by putting in place a stronger links between our committees and by working together on the legislative content, this will help you get closer to the whole range of EU policies to anticipate what kind of commitments and change it will require. And crucially, to understand where the European Union is and where it is heading.

SOUNDBITE (English), Roberta METSOLA, President of the European Parliament, Dear Chairs, throughout this meeting, you will have an opportunity to virtually meet your counterparts and to exchange on the technical details of your respective sectors. As EU co-legislators we are here for you to share our insight and understanding regarding EU legislation.

SOUNDBITE (English), Roberta METSOLA, President of the European Parliament, We are ready and committed to work with you along this path every step of the way. Slava Ukraini! And I would like to give the floor now to Ruslan.