The legislative work on implementing the seven EU "candidate recommendations" can be considered complete. Ukraine is counting on a positive interim evaluation of the completed tasks by the EU.

"As far as the legislative component of this process is concerned, the work on implementing the seven recommendations of the European Commission can, in principle, be considered complete," Vsevolod Chentsov, the ambassador of Ukraine to the EU, said in an interview with "Ukrinform."

According to him, there are specific achievements, particularly the successful appointment of key officials.

"This applies to the leadership of NABU, the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office, and the launch of the High Qualification Commission of Judges. That is, from the moment Ukraine received these recommendations, it significantly accelerated relevant processes," Chentsov explained.

He added that today "fine-tuning" of relevant decisions is taking place in the process of coordination and consultations with the European Commission, which is preparing an interim assessment, and with EU member states.

"We are counting on the fact that the spring or intermediate oral assessment will be positive. We have every chance that such an assessment will be high. Perhaps recommendations will also be given to cover all the things that need to be finalised," Chentsov added.

Ukraine's goal is that in the annual report, which will be presented in the fall, the European Commission could finally recommend to the Council of the EU to proceed to the start of negotiations on EU membership, the ambassador noted.

"We hope that such a decision will be made by the end of this year. So that we can start practical work from the beginning of next year," said the diplomat.

Earlier, the government announced that Ukraine was conducting bilateral negotiations with EU countries (Ukr) to optimise reforms and convince member states to start accession negotiations this year.

In February, Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal announced that the government would initiate a self-audit of national legislation for compliance with European legislation (Ukr) to start negotiations on joining the European Union as soon as possible.