On September 25, the Ministry for Development of Communities and Territories of Ukraine and the European Commission agreed to extend the Road Transport Agreement for an additional 15 months. It means the partial liberalization of freight transportation between parties will continue till 31 March 2027. 

Liberalization of transportation does not require special permits to perform bilateral and transit road transport operations.

The meeting of the Joint Committee of the Agreement was held with the participation of Oleksii Kuleba, Deputy Prime Minister for Ukraine’s Recovery – Minister for Development of 

Communities and Territories of Ukraine, Serhiy Derkach, Deputy Minister, and Kristian Schmidt, Director, Land Transport Directorate DG MOVE.

“Stable freight transport operations between Ukraine and the EU are a guarantee of Ukraine’s economic stability. Roads are our primary channel for exporting value-added goods, which form a significant part of budget revenues. Equally important is the ability to import vital cargo without obstacles. During the period of the Agreement, Ukraine's share of trade with the European Union has grown by almost 55% by road, which is a direct positive impact of our arrangements on both sides’ economies. I am grateful to our partners in the European Union for constructive dialogue and for understanding that this Agreement benefits both parties, as liberalization ensures the resilience of bilateral trade,” emphasized Oleksii Kuleba. 

Earlier, the extension of the Agreement had been supported by the majority of EU Member States.

The prolongation of the Agreement does not introduce any new rules for its implementation. As before, Ukrainian and EU carriers must comply with the existing liberalization provisions. Specifically, this pertains to vehicle markings, possession of a valid license, and accompanying cargo documentation.

As part of the extension, Ukraine has committed to continuing to implement road transport regulations in line with its European integration obligations. By the end of 2026, Ukraine is to implement key provisions relating to the professional reputation of companies, the use of smart tachographs, and the training of transport company managers. Importantly, from July 1, 2026, all newly registered freight vehicles in Ukraine must be equipped with smart tachographs.

“The extension of the Road Transport Agreement is a consistent result of our efforts in ensuring compliance with the Agreement, monitoring its effectiveness, and aligning national legislation with EU standards. I thank our carriers for their conscientious adherence to the Agreement; together, we must continue to maintain the highest standards of integrity and quality in freight transport. Importantly, as part of the extension, an independent study has been agreed to assess the Agreement’s impact on the economy. Ukraine has already expressed readiness to join this process to ensure the most objective assessment of the results of the RTA”, stressed Serhiy Derkach. 

Background. The Road Transport Agreement between Ukraine and the European Union was signed in June 2022 in response to Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine and the disruption of logistics chains. Liberalization facilitates Ukraine’s access to global markets, ensures the stable transit of goods through EU Member States, and strengthens trade ties between Ukraine and the EU.

Traditionally, the Agreement was concluded for a period of one year. In June 2024, it was extended for the third time. At that time, the parties also agreed that the Agreement would be automatically prolonged until the end of 2025, provided that neither party objected and no negative impact on EU Member States was observed.

To monitor the Agreement’s impact, a dedicated Working Group was established, comprising representatives of the Ministry for Development of Communities and Territories of Ukraine, EU Member States, and the European Commission. Deputy Minister Serhiy Derkach coordinates the process of extension and compliance monitoring.

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