As we move towards integration with the EU, we need to make decisions that meet the interests of domestic business and the development of the Ukrainian economy. This was stated by Yuliia Svyrydenko, First Deputy Prime Minister of Ukraine and Minister of Economy, in her speech at the discussion panel "Ukraine as Part of the EU Internal Market" at the conference on assessing Ukraine's readiness to join the EU held in Kyiv on 17 August. 

"As a candidate country for EU membership, Ukraine has no other model for economic development than to comply with EU requirements and rules. But at the same time, EU rules are the rules for developed economies. So our goal is to develop faster. And this requires extraordinary solutions that do not always fit into the rules of directives and regulations," said Yuliia Svyrydenko.

She noted that today there are qualitative changes in economic relations between Ukraine and the EU, as well as integration into the EU internal market. And this is much more than new legal agreements with the EU.

"Trade is a good example. For two years now, we have been exporting all our products to the EU without any duties. This is based on the EU's unilateral decision. Our task now is to turn this temporary regime into a permanent one. If we manage to reach an agreement with Poland on the lifting of trade restrictions, in autumn we will start negotiations on amendments to the Association Agreement to eliminate tariffs completely and permanently," said Yuliia Svyrydenko.

She also stressed that the EU has become the main trade route for Ukrainian goods to the world. In the first six months of 2023, the turnover of goods totalled $27.6 billion. Compared to the same period last year, it increased by almost 12% or $2.9 billion. A significant share of these exports is re-exported to third countries through EU ports. 

The First Deputy Prime Minister also recalled that Ukraine continues to work on concluding an agreement on technical regulation - an industrial visa-free regime - which would facilitate the export of more industrial products to the EU market. All EU assessment missions on this agreement were completed in July, and the Government is now working on implementing the recommendations, after which the agreement will be signed. 

As for customs integration, work is underway to expand the EUR.1 certification area. Currently, Ukrainian businesses can use parts and raw materials from 36 European and Mediterranean countries to manufacture products that can be imported duty-free into the EU. Moldova and North Macedonia have recently joined these countries. Montenegro and Turkey are next in line. Integration into the NCTS system will gradually streamline transit through the EU.