EU Assesses Ukraine's Law on National Minorities Positively, von Der Leyen Says

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has given a positive assessment of the Ukrainian law on national minorities, necessary for further progress towards EU membership.

"National minority groups have already reacted positively to this law. And our initial assessment is also positive," von der Leyen said during a speech at the plenary session of the European Parliament.

Von der Leyen said that Ukraine is making great progress in reforms to the EU, continuing to work on four recommendations for opening negotiations on joining the European Union.

She reiterated that the Verkhovna Rada also adopted two anti-corruption laws – on increasing the composition of the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU) and expanding the powers of the National Agency on Corruption Prevention (NACP).

"If implemented effectively, these actions could fulfil three of our four remaining recommendations. The Ukrainian government has also proposed a new law on lobbying to limit the power of oligarchs and fulfil our last recommendation," Von der Leyen said.

Earlier, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy signed Law No 10288-1 On Amendments to Legislation on National Minorities on 8 December. The amendments take into account the recommendations of the European Commission and are necessary for further progress towards EU membership.

Zelenskyy also signed bills on the National Anti-Corruption Bureau, the National Agency for the Prevention of Corruption and the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office, which are necessary to implement the recommendations of the European Commission. The bills were approved by the Ukrainian Parliament on that same day, 8 December.

On 8 November, the European Commission recommended opening accession negotiations with Ukraine, but put forward four requirements for such a decision.