Ukraine agrees with EU on next steps in accession talks - Ukraine's top official

Deputy Prime Minister for European Integration Olha Stefanishyna said this, Radio Liberty reports.

"We have formed a schedule of all further meetings within the framework of the start of the negotiation process, launched a screening process and approved the relevant sectoral meetings that will take place within the framework of the screening. Also, based on the results of today's talks, we are starting to work on roadmaps in the areas of rule of law and public administration reform, which will form the basis of the negotiation process itself," Stefanishyna said.

According to the official, screening is a drawn-out procedure that comprises sectoral meetings across all areas. First up will be the area of reforms and fundamental rights.

The European Council's decision, which Kyiv anticipates making in March, should serve as the catalyst for additional talks between Ukraine and the EU on its membership. The actual commencement of the negotiations needs the unanimous approval of the leaders.

"We hope that Ukraine's implementation of the four recommendations will speed up both the adoption of the negotiation framework and the opening of the first round of negotiations," the Vice Prime Minister said.

The European Commission is expected to publish its next assessment of Ukraine's fulfillment of the criteria for candidate status in late February.

Stefanishyna noted "good dynamics" and emphasized that "there are no restrictions on Ukraine's implementation of the recommendations until March.”

"It is already possible to prepare for the second reading, in particular, the law on lobbying, which is the last in the "anti-oligarchic package"... We also conduct weekly monitoring of the effectiveness of anti-corruption judicial bodies. This is a new element, it is already efficiency monitoring. I think additional law enforcement agencies will be added, taking into account the latest developments in Ukraine. And, of course, we are working on the implementation of legislation on national minorities," the official explained.