In the halls of the European Parliament, during an event organized by us together with Members of the European Parliament and our strategic partners — the Confederation of Danish Industry (DI) — we presented and discussed the Ukrainian industrial agenda and the first coordinated vision of economic integration, formed by representatives of Ukrainian business.
The event was also attended by representatives of the European Commission directorates, BusinessEurope, and the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Ukraine to the EU Vsevolod Chentsov.
The focus was on the following:
- Ukraine is not a competitor but a reliable partner and an opportunity for the EU economy and business.
- This is a chance for us to become stronger, more independent, and competitive on a global level together.
- The EU integration of Ukrainian business is already happening right now.
- We are already part of European production chains, exporting industrial products, supplying key components.
- This is a mutually beneficial cooperation for both sides.
- Economic integration of Ukraine could add up to 8% to the EU GDP.
- It is time to move from support to strategic partnership — through joint production, investments, and removal of remaining trade barriers.
This is clearly demonstrated by the unique study we conducted jointly with the State Research Institute of Informatization and Economic Modeling with the support of DI and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Denmark, based on a survey of 48 exporters and 15 sectoral associations from 37 sectors of Ukrainian industry.
“The document proves: Europe needs us not as competitors, but as partners — and as an opportunity to strengthen the strategic economic autonomy of the entire EU. Ukrainian business must become a full-fledged part of the European economic space. And is becoming so already today,”
— noted FEU Director General Ruslan Illichov during his speech.
The co-organizers of our event — Members of the European Parliament Willi Søvndal and Niels Flemming Hansen — also emphasized that Ukraine’s future is in the European Union. And not only because of trade or geography, but because it is in the strategic interest of the EU, as well as due to the economic potential of cooperation and the role of business.
The future of Ukraine is also the future of Europe. It is necessary to invest in trust — through real dialogue, concrete changes, and joint projects.
During the event, together with Marie Gad Hansen, Director for Global and Sustainable Development at the Confederation of Danish Industry, we discussed how the long-term cooperation between the FEU and DI and our member companies proves how important true strategic partnership is, focusing on joint production and investment.
The roundtable in Brussels was another step in the strategic dialogue between Ukraine and the EU regarding recovery, modernization, and industrial integration.
Ukrainian business clearly articulates its vision of EU integration — not as a passive process, but as joint work on creating a single economic space based on partnership, shared interests, and long-term mutual success.
Thanks to all co-organizers and participants of the dialogue!
And already today, we will continue at EU Industry Days 2025 in Rzeszów to present our position and research, working to ensure that Ukrainian business becomes an organic part of the single European economic area — not sometime in the future, but already today.
Because business, investment, and shared economic interests are a vital part of what turns European integration into a daily reality for millions of Ukrainians.
