A trusted negotiator could now represent Ukraine in Brussels, combining diplomatic outreach with trade duties to push open the remaining accession clusters.
President Volodymyr Zelensky proposed to Taras Kachka, the former deputy prime minister for European and Euro-Atlantic integration, to lead Ukraine’s representation to the EU in Brussels.
The president announced the initiative in a post on Facebook.
During a meeting with Taras Kachka, Zelensky thanked him for his work and noted that he had done important things in bringing Ukraine closer to EU membership.
did important things
– Volodymyr Zelensky
In a subsequent conversation, the president said he expected decisions on four more clusters, and expressed the conviction that Taras would most effectively implement this in Ukraine’s representation to the EU in Brussels. He also noted that Taras’s experience in trade policy would allow him to combine these tasks with the EU work and Ukraine’s role as trade representative within the framework of bilateral trade agreements with key partners.
We are awaiting decisions on four more clusters. I believe Taras will most effectively implement this in Ukraine’s representation to the EU – in Brussels. Also given Taras’s high effectiveness and experience in trade policy, he will combine this work with the EU with Ukraine’s trade representative function within our bilateral trade agreements with key partners
– Volodymyr Zelensky
The president added that government officials and the Office’s diplomatic team will support Taras Kachka in carrying out the defined tasks.
An assignment has also been set in the European integration direction to develop more detailed and sectoral activity to advance open clusters in negotiations with the EU on Ukraine’s accession and to focus on communicating with EU institutions and the national governments of EU member states to open the next clusters.
According to information from the parliament, the Verkhovna Rada recently approved a new composition of the Cabinet. Vsevolod Chentsov was appointed to the post of deputy prime minister for European and Euro-Atlantic integration.
Context for the next steps
Going forward, coordination between the president’s office, the government, and European partners is expected to strengthen as part of the drive toward Ukraine’s full membership in the EU.