In a meeting held remotely on Tuesday, senior figures from the European Parliament and Ukraine’s Verkhovna Rada reaffirmed their unwavering support for Ukraine’s path towards European Union membership.
As Ukraine battles not only the physical destruction of war but also undertakes the arduous journey of reform, both sides agreed that cooperation must not only continue but intensify.
At their second Inter-Committee Meeting, chairs of parliamentary committees, MEPs, and Ukrainian lawmakers reviewed ongoing collaboration and mapped out steps to bolster Ukraine’s readiness for EU accession. Committee leaders from both parliaments issued a firm joint commitment to Ukraine’s democratic resilience and its rightful place in the European family. With the shadow of Russian aggression still looming large, the gathering was a potent symbol of Ukraine’s determination to forge ahead with its European destiny.
European Parliament President Roberta Metsola addressed participants via video link, delivering a message of unequivocal support. “Ukraine’s rightful place is in the European family,” Metsola declared. “Ukraine has proven with significant progress on reforms that they are ready for these accelerated accession talks to move further, and our Parliament’s response is equally clear: our Union must continue to move ahead with even more resolve and action.”
Her remarks captured the tone of the meeting: one of solidarity, resolve, and urgency. MEPs praised Ukraine’s progress on reforms and stressed the need to maintain momentum, particularly in areas such as the rule of law, judicial independence, and the fight against corruption.
Ruslan Stefanchuk, the Speaker of the Verkhovna Rada, extended heartfelt thanks to the European Parliament for its steadfast leadership and support since Russia’s full-scale invasion in February 2022. “We are fully committed to the reform process,” he affirmed, adding that Ukraine would continue to press forward with the changes needed to align its institutions and laws with EU standards.
The dialogue between MEPs and Ukrainian parliamentarians ranged across a wide swathe of critical topics: from post-war economic recovery and infrastructure rebuilding to energy security, sanctions policy, nature restoration, and transitional justice. Ukrainian representatives were particularly vocal in their gratitude for the EU’s ongoing support, emphasising the central role that the European Parliament has played in keeping Ukraine’s aspirations firmly on the agenda.
At the heart of the discussions lay a shared recognition: Ukraine’s future as a full EU member will depend not just on the bravery of its soldiers, but on the strength of its democratic institutions and the vibrancy of its economy. With this in mind, both sides agreed that Ukraine must stay the course on reform, while Europe must continue to stand by Kyiv — politically, economically, and, increasingly, militarily.
There were calls from several MEPs for the EU to do more to ensure Ukraine’s security against future Russian aggression. Some urged that Europe must help provide credible, long-term security guarantees, noting that lasting peace in the region is vital not only for Ukraine but for the continent’s broader stability.
In addition, Ukrainian parliamentarians reiterated their call for the European Union to take bold steps to ensure justice for Russian war crimes. They advocated for the confiscation of frozen Russian assets to fund Ukraine’s recovery and reconstruction — a proposal that continues to generate debate in EU capitals but finds growing support among European lawmakers.
Since the first Inter-Committee Meeting in April 2023, the European Parliament has maintained close sectoral cooperation with its Ukrainian counterparts. Regular bilateral meetings between parliamentary committees have ensured that political and technical support for Ukraine remains robust and far-reaching.
This collaboration has been crucial as Ukraine progresses through the formal stages of accession. Negotiations were formally opened at the first Intergovernmental Conference in June 2024, and technical preparations are now underway in various sectors, guided by a detailed negotiating framework.
Ukraine’s journey towards the European Union is neither easy nor inevitable. Yet Tuesday’s meeting underscored a fundamental truth: Europe and Ukraine see their futures as inextricably linked. As one participant remarked, Ukraine is not merely knocking at the door of Europe — it is already part of the family in spirit, if not yet in law.
The road ahead will demand continued resilience, reform, and unity. But after Tuesday’s discussions, it is clear that both the European Parliament and the Verkhovna Rada are determined to walk that road together, step by step, towards a common European home.
