Berlin Dialogue: How Ukraine Advances Toward the EU in Cooperation with Germany

The manager of the “European-Ukrainian Council for Cooperation and Development”  Yelyzaveta Plitkova participated in the conference “Pathways to Progress: Germany-Ukraine Dialogues on Rule of Law for EU Accession”, held on January 17, 2025, in Berlin.

In June 2024, the EU officially initiated accession negotiations with Ukraine. The discussions prioritize Chapters 23 and 24, focusing on judicial reform and anti-corruption measures. Germany, as one of the founding members of the EU and a reliable ally in promoting the rule of law, plays a pivotal role in sharing expertise and supporting these reforms.

The conference marked the launch of a series of high-level political dialogues between Kyiv, Berlin, and Brussels on the rule of law. This initiative aims to strengthen cooperation, support parliamentary reforms, and engage civil society in advancing Ukraine’s path toward European integration.

🔹 Key topics discussed included:

✔️ Safeguarding electoral democracy during wartime;
✔️ Judicial reform to enhance transparency and public trust;
✔️ Addressing migration challenges, ensuring the rights of displaced persons, and integrating refugees.

🔹 Speakers included:
Oleksandr Korniyenko (First Deputy Chairperson of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine), Oleksiy Chernyshov (Vice Prime Minister of Ukraine – Minister of National Unity),  Robin Wagener (MdB), Olga Aivazovska (Opora), Vitalii Plukar (Central Election Commission), Karina Aslanyan (Legislative Ideas Agency), Oleksandra (Kryshtapovych) Keudel (Kyiv School of Economics), John Morijn (GIZ), Angelika Nussberger (Venice Commission), Inna Volosevych (Info Sapiens) and Ralph Genetzke (ICMPD).

This project is implemented in collaboration with Civil Network OPORA  and funded on Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit behalf of the Federal Foreign Office of Germany.

We extend our gratitude to the organizers for providing this vital platform that strengthens Ukraine’s confident movement toward the European community!