Ukrainian lawmakers adopt European Commission recommendations for EU accession

By Burc Eruygur

ISTANBUL (AA) - Ukraine's parliament on Wednesday adopted several bills recommended by the European Commission to further the country's EU accession process, announced the head of the assembly, also known as the Verkhovna Rada.

"We can say with confidence that the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine has fulfilled its part of the work and adopted all the necessary systemic bills to implement the recommendations of the European Commission," Ruslan Stefanchuk said, according to a statement by the parliament.

Stefanchuk noted that the European Commission made the recommendations after Kyiv obtained candidate status for EU membership on June 23, said the statement.

He added that Ukraine still needed to pass more judicial reforms, including on its Constitutional Court, while also harmonizing its audiovisual legislation with European laws and regulations and improving legislation on minorities and combating money laundering.

"I thank the People's Deputies of Ukraine who supported all decisions that bring us closer to the EU! Thanks to our European partners and allies! Our course is full membership in the EU," Stefanchuk added.

Ukraine applied for EU membership on Feb. 28, following the start of Russia’s "special military operation" against the country that began four days earlier.

The European Commission issued its opinion on the application of Ukraine's EU membership on Jun. 17, after which the European Council granted Kyiv candidacy status and said it would decide on further steps once all conditions of the European Commission's regular enlargement package are fully met.