The Lviv Conference (Ukraine–Netherlands Intergovernmental Conference), held this year in Breda on March 30 - 31, once again reaffirmed its role as an important platform for advancing Ukraine’s European integration and strengthening bilateral cooperation between Ukraine and the Netherlands.

The Conference brought together government representatives, experts and businesses, combining sectoral discussions in key areas such as rule of law, agriculture, energy, and social policy with an expanded business forum. This format enabled a more practical and results-oriented dialogue, supporting reforms, aligning Ukraine’s legislation with the EU acquis, strengthening energy resilience, and facilitating trade and investment cooperation. Sectoral dialogues, including on agriculture, further advanced practical steps toward EU standards.

Within the framework of the conference, bilateral meetings were held between the Vice Prime Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration of Ukraine, T. Kachka, with the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Netherlands, T.Berendsen, and the Minister of Foreign Trade and Development of the Netherlands, S.Sjoerdsma.

The business forum contributed to raising awareness among Dutch companies about Ukraine’s investment potential, identifying priority sectors for cooperation, and launching new formats of interaction between Ukrainian and Dutch partners in both B2B and B2G dimensions. A notable outcome was the signing of a Memorandum between the Odesa branch of the Ukrainian Sea Ports Authority (USPA) and the Port of Rotterdam, aimed at cooperation in the restoration and modernization of port.

An important element of the Netherlands’ approach to Ukraine’s EU accession was clearly reaffirmed: maintaining a strict and fair position regarding accession criteria, while at the same time being fully committed to supporting Ukraine in meeting these criteria through expertise, partnership, and sustained engagement. Ukraine highly values this balanced and principled approach.