The screening sessions were held in Brussels on April 28–29, according to a statement from the Ministry of Economy of Ukraine.
What Is Screening?
Screening is the verification process during EU accession negotiations that assesses whether a candidate country’s legislation aligns with the EU acquis communautaire—the body of common rights and obligations binding EU members.
Preparation for this round of screening lasted several months and involved input from multiple ministries and agencies.
Key Areas of Progress Reported by Ukraine
The Ukrainian delegation, led by Deputy Ministers Tetyana Berezhna and Andriy Telyupa, presented comprehensive updates in several strategic areas:
-
Industrial Policy Modernization: Advancing smart specialization, green transformation, and strengthening industrial ecosystems.
-
SME Support: Participation in the EU’s Single Market Program, development of business clusters, and improved access to finance.
-
Light Industry Resilience: Continued production, exports, and employment despite wartime conditions; shift toward a circular economy.
-
Corporate Sustainability: Harmonization with EU standards in sustainable development and corporate responsibility.
-
Deregulation and Digitalization: Cutting red tape and expanding digital services for business.
-
Social Economy Development: Promoting businesses focused on social welfare and community rebuilding.
-
Steel Industry Recovery: Presenting a roadmap for reviving steel production and integrating it into European supply chains.
What’s Next?
While the European Commission praised Ukraine’s high level of preparation, it emphasized the need for faster implementation of the EU Late Payment Directive—a key standard for improving business payment practices.
This completed screening is part of a broader process, with half of the negotiation clusters already reviewed.
Political Context and Road Ahead
Despite Ukraine’s progress, the Hungarian veto remains a significant obstacle in the next phase of EU accession talks. However, following talks in Budapest on April 29, Ukraine and Hungary agreed to regular consultations aimed at unblocking further negotiations.
As negotiations intensify, Ukraine remains committed to aligning its business, economic, and industrial policies with European standards.
