Is Ukraine ready to start EU accession negotiations? European Commission report
Ukraine has a low and only in some areas a medium level of preparedness to start negotiations for accession to the European Union. The analysis is contained in the European Commission's 66-page report on Kiev's readiness to start EU accession negotiations.
The best performance of Ukraine is in the area of foreign policy. The neighbouring country "demonstrates a high level of adherence to the European Union's foreign policy decisions," the European Commission report says. Kiev was rated "good" by the European Commission, with efforts to ensure the free movement of goods between the Ukrainian and European markets rated "satisfactory" or "average" by the Commission.
Progress in moving closer to the EU in most other areas of the country's economic and political development is at an "early stage".
However, the report also notes that Kiev is actively cooperating with the EU in the fight against cybercrime and disinformation. However, further work is needed to combat illegal trafficking in arms, ammunition and explosives, the document says.
Ukraine is traditionally advised to fight more actively against corruption and the influence of oligarchs, as well as to increase the level of financial control. As regards human rights and freedom of the press, Ukraine is at an "early stage" in this area, but the European Commission says Kiev is moving "in the right direction".
