European Commission report on Ukraine’s progress towards the EU took into account the recommendations of human rights defenders
On November 4, 2024, an extraordinary meeting of the Committee on Ukraine’s Integration into the EU was held to discuss the European Commission’s report on Ukraine. The meeting was attended by diplomats, Ukrainian officials, and representatives of civil society, including the NGOs that prepared the shadow report.
In particular, the meeting was attended by the Advocacy Director of Human Rights Centre ZMINA, Alena Lunova.
In her speech, she noted that the report on Ukraine’s progress under the Enlargement Package 2024, published by the European Commission on October 30, 2024, contains many recommendations that were mentioned in the shadow report of human rights defenders.
“We have seen many important recommendations in the European Commission’s report, some of which can be implemented right now. For example, Draft Law No. 5488 “On Amendments to the Code of Ukraine on Administrative Offences and the Criminal Code of Ukraine on Combating Discrimination” may be adopted as early as today, which should create the right conditions for prosecuting discrimination on various grounds. If it is adopted, it will increase liability for hate crimes and add gender identity to the list of grounds for hate crimes. Updates to the National Human Rights Strategy may also be adopted now and a corresponding action plan for its implementation may be adopted, as the previous one expired in 2023,” said Alena Lunova.
Alena LunovaAt the same time, Alena Lunova noted that the European Commission’s report does not contain an important focus – the human rights situation in the context of overcoming the consequences of the war.
“We are aware that there is a position that the EU enlargement report should not contain issues and requirements related to the temporarily occupied territories and the protection of human rights in the context of overcoming the consequences of the war. At the same time, we are talking about millions of people whose rights may be restricted due to the lack of policies on documents issued during the occupation, on bringing to justice, etc. We cannot ignore these risks, and we are also talking about fundamental rights,” emphasised Alena Lunova.
First Deputy Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada, Oleksandr Korniienko stressed that the Ukrainian parliament is actively implementing European integration recommendations from both European partners and the civil society sector into the legislation.
“The draft laws mentioned by ZMINA, including No. 5488, are all on the agenda of the Verkhovna Rada and will be adopted,” said Oleksandr Korniienko.
Oleksandr KorniienkoHe also stressed the need to strengthen the institutional capacity of the authorities on the path to European integration. “We have already officially addressed the European Commission during the screening process. We have conveyed our position that Ukraine needs additional resources to pay civil servants,” said the First Deputy Chairman.
Ivanna Klympush-Tsyntsadze, Chair of the Committee on Ukraine’s Integration into the EU, noted that Ukraine’s fulfilment of its tasks and commitments on the way to the European Union is taking place in unprecedented circumstances, as the country is working in a war. She noted that the European Commission’s report clearly indicates the areas that need to be improved and efforts increased.
Ivanna Klympush-TsyntsadzeOn the other hand, Katarina Maternova, Ambassador of the European Union to Ukraine, said that the European Commission’s report on Ukraine under the 2024 Enlargement Package was generally very positive despite the war, but there were areas where the European Commission expressed criticism and concerns, such as decentralisation or freedom of speech.
Katarina MaternovaOn October 29, 2024, a coalition of NGOs, including the Agency for Legislative Initiatives, Transparency International Ukraine, ZMINA, Tomorrow’s Lawyer and the Ukrainian Bar Association, presented in Kyiv the Shadow Report to Chapter 23 “Justice and Fundamental Rights” of the European Commission’s Report on Ukraine in 2023. This is the first report submitted by the Ukrainian civil society to the European Commission after Ukraine’s accession to the European Union. The experts assessed the period from June 2023 to August 2024 and provided 350 recommendations, some of which were prepared by ZMINA.
