European Union

The European Commission is expected to propose sanctions against ships delivering North Korean military equipment to Russia and tankers violating the G7 agreement on the price ceiling for Russian oil.

French President Macron is actively negotiating with EU leaders to find a new candidate to replace Ursula von der Leyen as president of the European Commission.

The Slovak government plans to replace the public broadcaster RTVS with a new body, STVR, which is sparking protests over concerns about media independence.

Poland is ready to help Ukraine return men of military age to participate in the war against russia.

The Verkhovna Rada adopted as a basis a draft law aimed at bringing Ukraine's customs legislation in line with the EU practice by introducing such concepts as customs representation, permits for certain customs regimes, and provisions on the movement and temporary storage of goods under customs control.

In response to the prosecutor's statement, the Ministry of Agriculture explained that Markiyan Dmytrasevych was on a business trip to Brussels from April 22 to 28 to participate in explanatory meetings between the European Commission and Ukraine as part of the negotiation process on Ukraine's accession to the EU.

The EU should provide Ukraine with the means for self-defense, as Putin understands only this language, said European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.

France has proposed new EU sanctions against Russian disinformation operations and election interference around the world.

The Verkhovna Rada adopted a bill that improves the participation of local governments in inter-territorial, cross-border and transnational cooperation, prohibits cooperation with the aggressor state and allows district councils and military administrations to initiate such cooperation.

Ukraine has received €1. 5 billion of the second tranche of funding from the EU and expects the third tranche of €1.89 billion to be disbursed soon.

The issue of excess profits from frozen Russian assets in the EU is not currently on the agenda of EU ambassadors this week, but there is a possibility that it could be approved within the next 1-2 weeks.

Deputy Defense Minister Timur Ivanov, who was arrested in Russia for taking bribes on an especially large scale, faces up to 15 years in prison.

Presidential elections have begun in North Macedonia, with seven candidates running. It is expected that none of the candidates will overcome the 50 percent threshold in the first round, so the second round will tentatively take place on May 8.

The Verkhovna Rada passed in the first reading a draft law that supplements the Tax Code with provisions on combating bribery of foreign officials, obliging regulatory authorities to notify the NABU of signs of bribery found during taxpayer audits.

Georgia has extended the period of visa-free stay for Ukrainian citizens to three years, allowing them to enter and stay in the country without a visa for the full three years.

EU Diplomacy Chief Josep Borrell expects the EU Council to finalize the discussion on the use of funds from seized Russian assets for military support to Ukraine through the European Peace Fund, as the bloc believes it is legally justified.

Starting today, April 24, buses can choose the time of border crossing at 10 checkpoints with Moldova as part of the electronic queue service.

According to the IMF, trade disputes between Ukraine and its European neighbors have affected Ukraine's economic growth and budget revenues.

On April 19, the largest conference for small and medium-sized businesses took place in the Pochaina event hall.

The Verkhovna Rada plans to consider a bill that would allow customs clearance of cars through the Diia system to reduce corruption and speed up the process, with the cost of the car calculated automatically.

The draft law proposes to implement European practices in the customs legislation of Ukraine, including customs representation, provisions on customs regimes, brought in line with EU norms, and harmonize terminology with European legislation.

Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine Andriy Yermak discussed the prospects of investing in Ukraine with representatives of CRH, the largest manufacturer of construction materials in North America and Europe, assuring them of full support and favorable conditions for such large investors.

The EU is considering imposing sanctions on more than 10 companies from russia, Turkey, the UAE, China, and Hong Kong for importing millions of euros worth of banned European goods for use by the russian military-defense complex, despite significant trade restrictions.

Ukraine could receive up to $5 billion from confiscated Russian assets if the US Congress approves the REPO bill, which would allow the president to seize Russian sovereign assets currently under US jurisdiction.

The draft law plans to classify oil, oil products, and gas condensate as excisable goods with a zero excise tax rate, and to include some solvents as excisable goods with a rate of 245 euros per 1000 liters.

The Committee on Agrarian and Land Policy called on the authorities to preserve the Ministry of Agrarian Policy and Food of Ukraine in its current format, emphasizing its vital role in ensuring food security and economic recovery of Ukraine during the war with Russia.

Austria has extended free travel on its highways and the right to obtain border insurance for Ukrainians with vehicles until September 30, 2024, allowing them to use Ukrainian driving licenses without exchanging them for EU ones during this period.

The European Parliament voted to extend duty-free trade in Ukrainian agricultural products for a year until June 5, 2025, with new restrictions to protect the interests of European farmers.

The Verkhovna Rada has supported a draft law that establishes new fines for illegal trade in beer, alcoholic beverages, tobacco products and e-cigarette liquids without state registration or permits.

The Verkhovna Rada supported a draft law to create a new system of regulation and control over activities related to forest reproductive resources, ensure the preservation and restoration of unique forest ecosystems, preserve genetic diversity, increase forest cover and bring them in line with EU legislation.