HIGH-LEVEL ADVISORY GROUP ON EUROPEAN INTEGRATION VISITED UKRAINE

Thirteen representatives from eight Nordic and Baltic states visited Ukraine to advise Ukrainian government on Ukraine’s accession to the European Union.

The delegation consisted of former European commissioners, ministers and ambassadors with large and hands-on experience of EU accession and in-depth knowledge of European institutions. All advisors had been appointed by their respective governments. The Advisory Group was initiated as part of Sweden’s presidency in the Nordic-Baltic Cooperation in April 2024 and is funded by Sweden.

Denmark was represented by Lykke Friis, former Minister of Climate, Energy and Gender Equality of Denmark

The delegation met with the Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal, Vice Prime Minister Olha Stefanishyna, as well as participated in a public discussion and a training session for Ukrainian civil servants. Each delegation member also had bilateral meetings with line ministries. Ms. Lykke Friis met with the Ukrainian Ministry of Energy as well as the Ministry for Environmental Protection and Natural Resources of Ukraine. The delegation was also briefed at the EU-delegation. A representative of the European Anti-Corruption initiative, EUACI, implemented and co-funded by Denmark briefed the delegation on the fight against corruption in Ukraine.

The delegation also visited the Okhmatdyt Children’s Hospital in Kyiv that had been severely damaged by the Russian missile attack on July 8th.

The trip to Ukraine was concluded on a hopeful note as the delegation took the same train as Ukraine’s Olympic Team on their way to Paris.