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Kick-off Conference: Germany-Ukraine Dialogues on Rule of Law for EU Accession
17/01/2025

kristaps ungurs/unsplash
kristaps ungurs/unsplash

Ukraine is the first country to undergo the EU integration process while at war. Despite daily attacks by Russia, Ukraine is advancing with reforms in the rule of law. The topics elections, migration, and justice were the focus of the conference held on 17.01.2025 in Berlin.

The one-day event in Berlin, organised jointly with the Civil Network OPORA, brought together leading experts and policymakers from Germany, Ukraine, and Brussels to discuss key issues surrounding Ukraine’s EU integration.

The conference focused on how Ukraine can safeguard democratic processes, tackle migration challenges, and reform its judicial system despite Russia’s war of aggression. A recurring theme was the balance between aligning with the EU acquis and creating room for innovation to enhance the resilience of both Ukraine and the EU.

The conference opened with welcome speeches by Manica Hauptman, Head of Political at the European Commission Representation in Germany, Robin Wagener, Member of the Bundestag and Chair of the German-Ukrainian Parliamentary Group, Prof Dr Funda Tekin, Director of IEP, and Olga Aivazovska, Chair of the Board at Civil Network OPORA.

The opening panel featured high-ranking participants, including Oleksandr Korniyenko, First Deputy Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada, Anka Feldhusen, Commissioner for Civilian Crisis Prevention and Stabilisation at the German Federal Foreign Office, and Helena Marrez, Deputy Head of Unit at the European Commission’s DG NEAR. Olha Stefanishyna, Ukraine’s Deputy Prime Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration and Minister of Justice addressed the participants via video message.

In his keynote address, Oleksii Chernyshov, Deputy Prime Minister and Head of the Ministry for National Unity established in December 2024, highlighted the importance of the diaspora for Ukraine’s reconstruction and development. He presented a strategy aimed at strengthening ties between Ukrainians abroad and their homeland while facilitating their return.

A roadmap for post-war elections

A key topic was preparing for free and fair post-war elections. Vitalii Plukar, Deputy Chair of the Central Election Commission, outlined the significant challenges posed by mass migration and destroyed infrastructure. Olga Aivazovska presented a detailed roadmap for secure and inclusive post-war elections for the first time. Oleksandr Korniyenko emphasised that Ukraine’s parliament is actively discussing practical solutions to involve Ukrainians abroad in the next election. While approximately 60,000 people abroad voted in the 2019 parliamentary elections, under current conditions, only a maximum of two per cent of the estimated six million Ukrainians in Europe would be able to cast their votes.

Legal challenges related to migration

The second panel focused on migration and securing Ukraine’s human capital. Ralph Genetzke, Head of the Brussels Mission of the International Centre for Migration Policy Development (ICMPD), stressed the importance of reliable data in debates around migration and a robust strategy for equal cooperation between institutions in Ukraine and EU states. Despite the predetermined accession process, there must be room for good ideas in areas not necessarily covered by the acquis or budgets, such as engaging the diaspora. Nataliya Pryhornytska, co-founder of Open Platform e.V., highlighted the diaspora’s pivotal role in reconstruction, reminding participants that behind every statistic is a human. The discussion underscored the need for close partnerships between Ukraine and the EU to address challenges collaboratively and ensure long-term stability.

Judicial reform as a pillar of EU integration

During the third panel, Prof Dr John Morijn, 3*E4U Lead Legal Expert at GIZ, stressed the critical importance of judicial independence. He noted that 95 percent of EU law compliance is ensured by national judges, and weaknesses in this area will have severe political and financial consequences. The war exacerbates these challenges: Karyna Aslanyan, Judicial Reform Project Lead at the Agency for Legislative Initiatives, reported an annual caseload of 4–5 million cases for around 5,000 judges in Ukraine. In December 2024, the Ukrainian government has submitted a Rule of Law Roadmap, developed with input from international experts and Ukrainian civil society. Polina Li, Adviser to the Deputy Prime Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration of Ukraine, stated that there is a clear vision for implementing the roadmap and that a strategy for judicial reform is being developed. Concrete progress is essential to enhance transparency and restore public trust in the judicial system.

The conference highlighted the unprecedented challenges Ukraine faces on its path to the EU. At the same time, it became evident that through reforms, resilience, and innovative approaches, Ukraine not only shapes its own future but also strengthens the EU.

The conference was held as part of the project “Pathways to Progress: Germany-Ukraine Dialogues for Rule of Law on EU Accession”, funded by the 3*E4U project of the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) on behalf of the German Federal Foreign Office.

Team & authors

About the Pathways to Progress: Germany-Ukraine Dialogues on Rule of Law for EU Accession project: For Ukraine's successful integration into the EU, close cooperation on reforms in the rule of law and fundamental values is crucial. Political dialogue events in Kyiv, Berlin and Brussels promote this and enable the active participation of civil society.

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