The European Union’s Ambassador to Ukraine, Katarina Mathernova, met journalists at the Institute of Mass Information’s regional hub Mediabaza Kharkiv on 20 July. The event was attended by over 20 journalists and media professionals from Kharkiv oblast, reports Yulia Napolska, IMI’s regional representative.
“It is not just Ukraine that needs the European Union. The European Union also needs Ukraine,” the diplomat emphasised.
The event took place as part of a one-day training “EU: The Complex Put Simply,” which aimed to help media professionals better understand the process of Ukraine’s European integration and the work of EU institutions.
During the discussion, journalists asked Katarina Mathernova questions about Ukraine’s accession prospects, partnership with the European Union, financial support, drone manufacturing, the EU’s reaction to Mykhailo Fedorov being dismissed from the post of Minister of Defense, talks with Russia’s President Vladimir Putin, etc.
The ambassador believes that Ukraine’s membership in the EU will not only make the Ukrainian state stronger but also strengthen the European Union itself.
“I still think and continue to believe that the 2030s are a realistic timeframe. We will need more active reform implementation, as well as more active engagement and communication with the public in the European Union to explain the benefits of Ukraine’s accession to the EU,” Mathernova said.
She added that Europe was not used to taking care of its own defense because the system has been focused on the US and NATO since the end of World War II. However, the world being unpredictable as it is today has made the defense issue very urgent and Ukraine’s experience invaluable for the EU.
