On November 6, a High-Level Dialogue between Ukraine and the European Union took place in Uzhhorod, focusing on key areas of cooperation in the field of transport and infrastructure. The Ukrainian delegation was led by Oleksii Kuleba, Vice Prime Minister for the Restoration – Minister for Development of Communities and Territories of Ukraine, while the European Union was represented by Magda Kopczyńska, Director-General of the Directorate-General for Mobility and Transport (DG MOVE).

The meeting focused on the main outcomes of Ukraine–EU cooperation in the transport sector, the presentation of new strategic priorities for further connectivity development, and the alignment of Ukraine’s transport policies with the EU integration agenda.

 «We highly appreciate the European Union’s support in developing transport infrastructure, modernizing border crossing points, and liberalizing freight transport. At a time when Russia continues to attack Ukrainian logistics, railways, and ports, we remain ambitious in our goals to make Ukraine’s infrastructure safe, resilient, and compliant with EU standards. We have already gained strong experience through cooperation under the EU’s Connecting Europe Facility (CEF) and are ready to actively attract financing for priority transport connectivity projects», – Oleksii Kuleba stated.

During the Dialogue, the parties discussed the results of the “Solidarity Lanes” initiative, which supports Ukrainian exports and essential imports. Over the past three years, more than 190 million tonnes of goods have been exported and over 86 million tonnes imported under this initiative – including humanitarian aid and construction materials essential for Ukraine’s recovery. The overall trade volume through the Solidarity Lanes is estimated at over €230 billion.

«Today’s transport dialogue was not only an opportunity to take stock of our shared priorities in the area of transport, but also to reaffirm the EU’s unwavering support for Ukraine. We are committed to ensure Ukraine’s integration in the EU transport system and our excellent cooperation is bringing Ukraine and the EU closer together every day», — Magda Kopczyńska emphasised.

A key topic of the meeting was the extension of the Road Transport Agreement between Ukraine and the EU until March 2027. Deputy Minister Serhiy Derkach noted that the Ministry is already working on the main legislative acts required to align Ukraine’s transport standards with those of the EU. A Roadmap of these reforms has been coordinated with the European Commission.

In the maritime transport discussion, participants emphasized the need to ensure the security of maritime routes and the stable functioning of the “Ukrainian Corridor”. Deputy Minister Andrii Kashuba highlighted the importance of attracting financing for the reconstruction of damaged port infrastructure, procurement of equipment, and training of specialists.

The Dialogue also addressed the development of railway connectivity, including the launch of a European-gauge railway to Uzhhorod, and the alignment of national legislation with EU transport law. Deputy Minister Oleksii Balesta underlined the importance of advancing legislative reform in the railway sector to improve efficiency and competitiveness. 

In the aviation sector, it was noted that Ukraine’s current focus is on preserving infrastructure and professional capacity, while continuing to adapt national legislation to EU standards in preparation for future reopening of air traffic.

In addition to the Dialogue, a meeting of the Steering Committee of the EU “Connecting Europe Facility” (CEF) programme was also held with the participation of the European Commission and the Ministry for Developments. Representatives of Romania, Poland, Hungary, Slovakia, and Moldova also joined the meeting. 

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