Deputy Prime Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration of Ukraine Taras Kachka participated in the panel discussion “Ukraine's EU Membership: Building Shared Security, Resilience, and a Common Future,” which took place on the sidelines of the Ukraine Reconstruction Conference (URC2025) in Gdansk, Poland.

The discussion was also attended by European Commissioner for Enlargement Marta Kos and Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Poland Radosław Sikorski.

During his speech, Taras Kachka emphasized that the opening of negotiations under Cluster 1 "Fundamentals of the EU Accession Process" was a key political decision that confirmed the unity of all European Union member states around the European future of Ukraine.

"Ukraine is not starting its path to membership in the European Union from scratch. For more than ten years, we have been consistently integrating into the EU single market, implementing European standards, changing the rules of business and state institutions. Today, more than half of Ukrainian exports go to European Union countries, and this is the best confirmation that our economy is already an integral part of the European economic space. That is why the negotiation process is based not only on political will, but also on the results of many years of reforms," ​​the Deputy Prime Minister noted.

He also emphasized that today the negotiation process, in addition to being an impetus for necessary reforms, is an integral part of European security.

"Ukraine is undergoing a negotiation process based on the principle of a merit-based approach. We are not asking for exceptions or simplified procedures. We are moving forward quickly because we are implementing the necessary reforms. Our task today is to maintain this pace and prove that European integration is a joint investment in the security, stability and future of both Ukraine and the entire European Union," Taras Kachka emphasized.

The Deputy Prime Minister paid special attention to the importance of Cluster 1 for the economic development of Ukraine.

During the discussion, the participants discussed the progress of the negotiation process on Ukraine's accession to the EU, further progress in the negotiations, the role of European integration in restoring the economy and attracting investment, as well as Ukraine's contribution to strengthening the security, stability and competitiveness of the European Union.