The regional dialogues between the Government and business regarding the key expectations and challenges of Ukraine's European integration process are ongoing. A meeting dedicated to discussing the opportunities and challenges for the transport sector in this process took place in Lviv.

The transport industry ensures export logistics and the daily mobility of Ukrainians amidst the war. Simultaneously, the process of integration into the single transport space of the European Union is underway. Ukraine is adapting its legislation, while practical changes are taking place in market access rules, requirements for carriers, social standards, technical regulations, and transport safety. For businesses, it is crucial to understand the sequence and timelines of these changes, to be able to adapt their operational processes in advance, and to directly discuss the practical issues arising during European integration with government officials. To address these and other issues, the Office of the Vice Prime Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration of Ukraine, with the support of the Ukraine2EU program, is holding practical dialogues with representatives of key sectors of the Ukrainian economy.

During the meeting on September 24, participants discussed concrete steps for implementing European integration norms covering negotiating Chapters 14 (“Transport Policy”) and 21 (“Trans-European Networks”). The event brought together over 100 representatives of transport companies, government agencies, international experts, and regulators.

Key issues discussed included: the path and conditions for Ukrainian business integration into the EU Single Market; regulatory procedures and timeframes; support from the European Union; social standards and technical requirements for the transport sector; safety of freight and passenger transport; modernization of the transport fleet and development of socially important transport services; and the role of local communities in the sector's European integration.

“Our strategic goal is Ukraine's full participation in the common transport space of the European Union and operating under common rules. An important part of this process is the development of the TEN-T transport corridors, which should ensure high-quality connectivity between Ukraine and the EU Member States and the Single Market. These transport links are already providing Ukrainian businesses with access to the European market today. At the same time, it is important that Ukrainian businesses understand the upcoming changes in advance and have the opportunity to prepare for them. By the time of full integration, our transport sector must be ready for the competition and new opportunities of the Single Market,” noted Vsevolod Chentsov, Deputy  Prime Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration of Ukraine.

The Deputy Prime Minister also emphasized the importance of opening all negotiating clusters as soon as possible, particularly Cluster 4, which covers transport policy and trans-European transport networks and is crucial for Ukraine's further integration into the EU transport space.

Integrating Ukraine into the EU's common transport space will improve transport infrastructure and strengthen Ukraine's logistical connectivity with EU member states. At the same time, large-scale post-war reconstruction creates significant potential for investments in the transport sector — from updating the transport fleet and developing border infrastructure to introducing modern technologies and European transport standards.

“European integration in the field of road transport means concrete changes in the operations of Ukrainian carriers. We are already implementing some of the necessary decisions, while subsequent ones will require preparation from both the state and business. Therefore, it is fundamentally important for us to talk with carriers at the preparation stage of these changes: to explain the logic and deadlines, to hear practical questions, and together to seek solutions that will allow the Ukrainian transport sector to fully operate on the European market," emphasized Mykola Kalashnyk, Minister for Restoration, Infrastructure and Transport of Ukraine.

European integration already affects the entire transport sector and covers issues such as strengthening road safety standards, protecting passenger rights, ensuring proper working conditions and observing drivers' work and rest schedules, meeting modern requirements for carriers and vehicles, and broader implementation of digital transport systems. Ukraine has already taken the first step towards implementing European rules by adopting Law No. 4337-IX. It establishes new requirements for carriers: transport companies must confirm the availability of a permanent place of business, professional competence, financial capacity, and an impeccable business reputation. Furthermore, the Law introduces the institution of a transport manager – a responsible person who organizes transport operations, monitors compliance with legislation, and must prove their professional competence. EU requirements regarding the control of drivers' work and rest schedules are also currently being implemented.

The next step should be the introduction of licensing for domestic freight transport. This will establish uniform rules for all market participants, promote fair competition, reduce the shadow segment, and improve the quality of transport services.

“Ensuring the full integration of the transport sector into the EU is impossible without high-quality legislative work. It is important for us that the decisions made by the parliament are understandable to businesses and take into account the real working conditions of Ukrainian carriers. That is why such direct dialogue with the industry is needed at the stage of preparing and implementing legislative changes. Our task is to consistently align Ukrainian rules with European ones while creating conditions under which Ukrainian carriers can be competitive on the common EU market,” noted Yurii Kisiel, Chair of the Verkhovna Rada Committee on Transport and Infrastructure.

Key transport and logistics routes between Ukraine and the European Union pass through the Lviv region, where the event took place. Currently, the M-09 Ternopil-Lviv-Rava-Ruska road is being modernized in the region, border infrastructure is being developed, and joint control mechanisms are being implemented. One of the key areas of work is the development of a European standard 1435 mm railway gauge. The European Commission has provided €73.5 million in grant support for the first phase of the “Mostyska II - Sknyliv” project under the Connecting Europe Facility. This is another step towards improving railway connections with the EU, creating new opportunities for passengers and exporters, and reducing the burden on road border crossing points.

“For the Lviv region, European integration in the transport sector means concrete changes in infrastructure, the operation of border crossing points, railway connections, and logistics, which should make the movement of people and goods faster and more efficient. At the same time, infrastructure is only a part of this process. Businesses need clear rules, predictable logistics, faster border crossings, sufficient throughput capacity, and access to European financial instruments. That is why such dialogues are important: the state must not only implement European norms but also hear the businesses that will operate under them,” emphasized the Head of the Lviv Regional Military Administration, Maksym Kozytskyy.

Dialogues with business, which take place specifically at the regional level, allow breaking down the European integration process into concrete decisions and opportunities for Ukrainian companies. The initiative creates a structured space for business representatives to share their thoughts, ask practical questions, and better understand how European integration affects their company's operations, planning, and future development.

Jacob Ulrich, Lead Expert for Communication and Civil Society Engagement of the Ukraine2EU program, noted: “European integration is not only about harmonizing legislation but also about the readiness of Ukrainian companies to work according to new rules. For this, it is important to talk with businesses today about concrete changes, potential challenges, and solutions that will help them adapt to the requirements of the European market. Regional dialogues provide an opportunity to hear the experiences of companies directly on the ground and take them into account in preparing Ukraine for EU membership. It is exactly this practical and open format of interaction that Ukraine2EU supports.”

Despite the war, Ukrainian businesses continue to integrate into the EU Single Market. In the transport sector, this path means a higher level of safety and protection of passenger and driver rights, as well as clearer rules and advantages of the common EU transport space for Ukrainian carriers.

The event was organized by the Office of the Vice Prime Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration of Ukraine in cooperation with Ukraine2EU, a flagship European Union program supporting Ukraine's preparation for accession and future EU membership.