Zelensky says hopes EU will appreciate Rada's endorsement of EU integration laws

MOSCOW. Dec 11 (Interfax) - Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky has said he hopes that the EU leaders will praise Verkhovna Rada's endorsement of the European Union's integration laws.

"Today [on Friday], Ukraine's Verkhovna Rada endorsed the required laws in accordance with the European Commission's recommendations for combating corruption and for ethnic minorities' rights. The Venice Commission's conclusions specifically on ethnic communities have been taken into account. We expect Ukraine's efforts to be appreciated by the EU leaders and Ukraine's respective European pledges to be fulfilled," Ukrainian media quoted Zelensky as saying in a video message on Friday.

"We had seven recommendations. We did everything that was expected of us in December," he said.

Prime Minister Denis Shmygal thanked lawmakers for the timely adoption of a package of laws in order to meet Ukraine's commitments to the International Monetary Fund (IMF), Ukrainian media reported.

"In particular, the bills on strengthening the independence of the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office, on criminalizing smuggling and on a set of measures to bolster independent court proceedings have been adopted in general. The adopted measures are conditions for the third review of the IMF program, which will take place next year," the media quoted him as saying on social media on Saturday.

Ukraine also expects that the IMF Executive Board's decision on the second review of the cooperation program and providing the next disbursement of around $900 million will be positive in the near future, he said.

In its turn, the Verkhovna Rada appealed to the EU member states and EU institutions to support the launch of negotiations on Ukraine's accession to the EU, the Ukrainian media reported.

The Ukrainian parliament is hopeful that the relevant decision will be made at a European Council session on December 15, 2023.