The EBA anniversary event

The 25th anniversary of the European Business Association was a landmark event that brought together leading experts, politicians, and business representatives. Altelaw, as a new member of the Association, was honored to participate in this landmark event.

Among the honorable guests of the event were Vitaliy Koval, Minister of Agrarian Policy and Food of Ukraine, Olga Stefanishyna, Vice Prime Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration – Minister of Justice of Ukraine, Office of the Vice Prime Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration, Valeriy Zaluzhnyi, Ambassador to the United Kingdom, Oksana Markarova, Ambassador of Ukraine to the United States, and many other high-ranking officials.

Key points and discussions:

• The path to the EU. A separate issue of the debate was Ukraine’s transformation on the path to EU accession, in particular in the field of rule of law and judicial reform. Olga Stefanishyna highlighted that Ukraine is moving towards European integration, but there is still a lot of work to be done. Fulfillment of all the necessary conditions will allow our country to become a full member of the European Union by 2030. 

• The impact of the war. The participants of the event discussed the duration of the war and its consequences for the Ukrainian economy. Various forecasts were made, from comparing Ukraine to Israel to dependence on the American elections.

• Business opportunities. Oksana Markarova called on Ukrainian business to actively engage in the American market, eliminating inferiority complexes. Valeriy Zaluzhny highlighted the need for Ukrainian business to be independent and self-reliance.

• Agriculture and European integration. The Minister of Agriculture stressed the importance of protecting the interests of Ukrainian farmers during the EU accession negotiations.

• Human resources and defense. Business representatives expressed concern about the shortage of personnel and the impact of military operations on the economy. Defense Minister Rustem Umerov assured that the Ministry supports business and is open to negotiations on cooperation and booking features to ensure stable operation of the economy.

• Prospects for the defense industry. Herman Smetanin expressed optimism about the development of Ukraine’s defense industry after the victory, seeing it as a potential for sustainable economic growth.

The EBA’s anniversary event confirmed the importance of European integration processes for Ukraine. The participants discussed current challenges and opportunities for the Ukrainian economy and identified priority areas for business development in the new environment. Altelo welcomes the EBA initiatives and is ready to contribute to the development of Ukrainian business. 

We wholeheartedly congratulate the European Business Association on its 25th anniversary, thank you for the opportunity to join the event, and hear the standpoint of experts!