On 24 September 2019, a meeting of the informal group of "Friends of European Ukraine" took place in Brussels.
Member of the European Parliament, representative of Lithuania Petras Auštrevičius noted that the 9th European Parliament is determined to develop further fruitful and mutually beneficial cooperation within the framework of the parliamentary dimension of the Ukraine-EU relations, and will unwaveringly continue to support Ukraine on the path to restoring its territorial integrity and countering the Russian aggression.
The Ukrainian delegation informed the MEPs about the first results in the work of the newly elected Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine as well as about the priorities in implementation of comprehensive democratic reforms. It was emphasized that the implementation of the Association Agreement and enshrined in the Ukraine’s Constitution course towards the full-ledged membership in the EU and NATO remain priorities for our country.
The group members discussed a wide range of issues on the EU-Ukraine partnership Agenda and outlined priority areas for further cooperation.
Inter alia, the parties discussed the involvement of the EU side in the process of expert discussions on the draft laws aimed at successful implementation of the Association Agreement.
The Ukrainian delegation was represented by members of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine Ivanna Klympush-Tsintsadze, Vadym Halaychuk, Maria Mezentseva and Pavlo Melnyk. As of today, about 50 MEPs from 16 EU Member States and 6 leading political groups have joined the group.