The European Union has published an annual report on the implementation of the Association Agreement by Ukraine, in which it notes that, despite the difficulties, the reforms carried out allow Ukraine to confidently enter a new stage of European integration.

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" The reforms carried out to date within this framework allow Ukraine to embark with confidence on a new stage in its relations with the EU following the decision of the European Council on the status of Ukraine as a candidate country. Russia's illegal and unprovoked military aggression against Ukraine will not prevent the EU from supporting Ukraine's reform agenda,"

Directly in the document itself, it is noted that during the period covered by the report, " The report highlights that Ukraine nevertheless continues to prioritize association and further integration with the EU, and that despite these challenges, key reforms have gained momentum.

In particular, in the areas of justice, the rule of law and the fight against corruption, there have been a number of positive developments, in particular, the adoption of key laws aimed at reforming the High Council of Justice (HCJ) and the re-establishment of the High Qualifications Commission of Judges (HQJC). " A new law on the National Anti-Corruption Bureau (NABU) was adopted, establishing a much-needed clear legal framework for governance. The process of selecting a new head of the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office (SAP) has not been completed. The Supreme Anti-Corruption Court (VAKS) continued to build a solid reputation, and a law on the protection of whistleblowers was passed. Another important step was taken in reforming the Ukrainian system of combating serious economic and financial crimes with the creation of the Economic Security Bureau (BEB),” the main findings say..

In addition, the report states that the government has adopted a new public administration reform strategy in line with European principles of public administration, and merit-based recruitment has been reinstated..

" The new SOE Corporate Governance Bill passed the first parliamentary reading in July 2021. It aims to bring Ukrainian legislation in line with the guidelines. Ukraine's financial sector remained profitable despite the impact of the Covid-19 crisis. However, developments at the National Bank of Ukraine (NBU) have raised concerns about the independence of the Central Bank and banking supervision..

With regard to the energy sector, the document says that the wholesale electricity market of Ukraine continued to function " "

In addition, little progress was made in environmental reforms in 2021, and in the area of \u200b\u200baction to combat climate change, Ukraine adopted and submitted its contribution to the Paris Agreement and the National Climate Change Adaptation Strategy.. "

It is also noted that Ukraine continues to achieve significant success in the field of digital transformation.. " Digital transformation has already contributed to more efficient and transparent governance and the fight against corruption..

In addition, the report recalled the fourth report on the visa suspension mechanism dated August 4, 2021, which concluded that, in general, Ukraine continues to meet visa liberalization benchmarks and has taken measures to implement previous recommendations.. "

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Recall that in December, Deputy Prime Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration Olga Stefanishyna said that Ukraine had already fulfilled 61% of the Association Agreement with the EU, signed in 2014.