First EuroSummit in Kyiv: public organizations gather to discuss Ukraine’s European integration and economic aspects of joining the EU

On May 9, Kyiv hosted its first EuroSummit conference, bringing together representatives from governmental institutions and public organizations. The event's main focus was to discuss Ukraine's European integration, its reputation among partner nations, and the economic implications of joining the EU.

Rubryka also attended the event.

Dmytro Shulha, Director of the International Renaissance Fund, said that Ukraine is in the final stage of preparations for joining the EU.

"Our goal is to find a level of integration that will satisfy both Ukraine and the EU… Now the level of preparation for accession [to the EU] is 90%," Dmytro Shulha said.

He says 2024 will be a crucial year for European integration as the first talks for Ukraine's joining the EU are scheduled.

As the conference speakers all concurred, the primary obstacle to Ukraine's full membership in the EU lies in altering its image. Ukraine must shift its perception from the stereotype of being impoverished and disadvantaged to one of strength and potential for opportunity. Once this change is achieved, Ukrainians will be able to effectively communicate and demonstrate their significance and value to European society.

In addition, Ukrainian society has a number of internal challenges to overcome to make the European integration process closer and easier.

"We asked citizens how they assess their own awareness of the process of Ukraine's accession to the EU, the requirements that the EU sets for Ukraine before joining, and the benefits that Ukraine will receive. But only 1/3 of citizens said that according to their own assessment, they are aware," Dmytro Shulha mentioned.

Veronika Movchan, the Center for Economic Research head, stressed that an additional issue is becoming more pressing—the depletion of human resources. According to the expert, it is crucial to focus on embracing technological advancements and "retraining" to maximize efficiency for the European Union and one's own country.

As the head of the "European Integration, Governance, and Rule of Law, Civil Society" department at the EU Representation, Asier Santillan stressed that he believes the primary concerns are:

• corruption,
• an inadequate government selection process,
• slow adoption of European laws,
• and insufficient implementation of economic reforms to encourage the return of Ukrainians from abroad.

He also stated that these issues must be addressed as a top priority.

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It should be noted that Katarina Mathernova, the European Union's ambassador to Ukraine, believes that Ukraine's accession to the EU in 2030 is quite realistic.