President Röpke and EESC delegation in Ukraine reaffirm support for country's EU future, ahead of the European Commission's enlargement package

On 2 and 3 November, President Oliver Röpke led a Delegation of the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) during the Committee's first visit to Ukraine, reaffirming unwavering support for Ukraine's reconstruction efforts and European aspirations. The visit, which took place ahead of the European Commission's Enlargement Package, provided an opportunity for President Röpke to discuss Ukraine's progressive integration into EU and the recent EESC initiative to involve "Enlargement Candidate Members" from Ukraine in its work, starting in 2024. The EESC emphasised that the Ukraine's reconstruction must take place in full respect of human and labour rights, rule of law, transparency, equality and through a genuine social dialogue.

EESC President Oliver Röpke said: "The EESC stood by Ukraine and its civil society since day one of Russia's war of aggression. Ukraine has taken great strides forward, despite the ongoing state of war, and is ready to start the EU accession negotiations. The EU must respond to this call of history, just as the EESC did by gradually integrating Ukraine through initiatives like "Enlargement Candidate Members". Civil society and social partners are instrumental in the European integration, building democratic resilience and safeguarding human rights."

High-level political engagements

On 2 November, the Delegation held high-level meetings with Ukrainian state officials including Yuliia Svyrydenko, First Deputy Prime Minister; Iryna Vereshchuk, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Reintegration of Temporarily Occupied Territories; Oleksandr Yarema, State Secretary of the Cabinet of Ministers, and Oleksandr Korniienko First Deputy Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada. During these meetings, the EESC Delegation had an opportunity to discuss in-depth the European integration processes of Ukraine, the need to deepen economic cooperation with the EU, and involvement of civil society and social partners in these endeavours. The EESC expressed its readiness to assist in Ukraine's capacity building, drawing on the experience of EU Member States with recent post-war recovery.

The EESC Delegation also met with members of Verkhovna Rada: Galyna Tretiakova, Chair of Committee for Social Policy and Veteran Support; Tetiana Tsyba, Member of Committee for Social Policy and Veteran Support and Chair of the Subcommittee on Social Protection of Children Affected by the Armed Aggression of the Russian Federation against Ukraine; Dmytro Kyselevsky, Deputy Chair of Economic Development Committee; and Valentyn Nalyvaichenko Secretary of the Committee on Ukraine’s integration into the EU.

Civil society exchanges and visit to Bucha and Irpin

On 3 November, the EESC Delegation held meetings with the representatives of Ukraine's trade unions, employers and business associations, and civil society organisations, gaining first-hand insights into the current situation regarding the labour legislation, involvement of social partners in decision-making, and the functioning of social and civil dialogue during wartime.

In the afternoon, the Delegation visited Bucha, the site of a massacre perpetrated by Russian forces, to pay respects to the Ukrainian civilians and soldiers who lost their lives in the war of aggression against Ukraine.

The Delegation also visited Ecosoft, based in Irpin, a leading manufacturer of water filtration systems, showcasing how Ukrainian companies can actively contribute to the country's recovery. Despite being destroyed during the war, Ecosoft managed to evacuate its employees and their families, fulfill pre-war contracts, and continue its operations, now actively contributing to Ukraine's reconstruction by supplying water to all regions across Ukraine and 60 countries worldwide, including Africa under UN programmes.

Quotes by members of EESC Delegation

Lucie Studničná, President of the EESC’s Workers’ Group remarked: "Ukrainians oppose the barbarism of the Russian aggression with huge bravery and commitment. We need to support them in strengthening civil and social dialogue to help build resilient society, post-war reconstruction and their way into the EU."

Séamus Boland, President of the EESC’s Civil Society Organisations’ Group stated: "I welcome the commitment of the Ukrainian government to involve all actors from civil society in the reconstruction process. It is of utmost importance to include all voices so that no-one is forgotten. We must not forget that until today EU Member States have welcomed over 7 million people fleeing the war. Civil society organisations are playing an essential role in supporting people in Ukraine and the Member States."

Marcin Nowacki, Member of the EESC’s Employers’ Group, co-chair of the EU-Ukraine civil society platform shared: "We can see the great determination of our partners in Ukraine to integrate further into the European Union. We discussed support in the accession negotiation process, also from business perspective. Many Member States still have an institutional memory of adapting business to EU needs, which will be crucial, as challenges remain: from access to the Single Market to developing a new model of social dialogue in Ukraine."

Background: EESC support to Ukraine

Since the start of the war, the EESC has undertaken numerous initiatives to support Ukraine and its civil society, including the adoption of three resolutions (March 2022: War in Ukraine and its economic, social and environmental impact; June 2022: Ukraine – from relief to reconstruction – proposals by the European civil society; February 2023: Ukraine: One year after the Russian invasion – the European civil society perspective) and issuing several opinions on topics, such as EU solidarity lanes, food price crisis and EU gas storage, among others.

As part of the Ukraine Civil Society Hub, set up in April 2022, the EESC provides a part of its premises to Ukrainian civil society organisations and local councils, based or relocated in Brussels.

Despite the war, the  EESC has managed to maintain regular dialogue with Ukrainian partners through the established channels: the EU-Ukraine civil society platform (CSP) and the EU-Ukraine domestic advisory group on trade and sustainable development (DAG).

In September 2023, the EESC took a landmark decision to involve representatives from the civil society of EU candidate countries in the advisory work of the Committee by appointing the "Enlargement Candidate Members (ECMs)"