On 23 June 2026, a delegation of the Ukrainian Council of Churches and Religious Organizations (UCCRO) met in Brussels, Belgium, with European Commissioner for Enlargement Marta Kos..
European Commissioner Marta Kos welcomed the Ukrainian delegation and spoke about the opening of the first cluster of accession negotiations between the EU and Ukraine. She acknowledged Ukraine’s reform efforts while resisting Russian military aggression, highlighted the threat posed by Russian propaganda in EU candidate countries, and emphasised the importance of dialogue with civil society institutions and cooperation in addressing these challenges.
UCCRO representatives stressed that the Ukrainian people had chosen a European path for their country in two Maidan movements. They noted that Ukrainian churches and religious organisations, as an integral part of civil society, support Ukraine’s accession to the European Union and wish to cooperate with international partners who share this goal.
The religious leaders described the spiritual, social and humanitarian work of different faith communities during the war and their role in strengthening unity within Ukrainian society. The UCCRO delegation discussed with Marta Kos the challenges Ukraine may face after the war and opportunities for cooperation with European institutions in the country’s recovery.
Both sides recognised the value of such meetings and agreed to continue the dialogue. To commemorate their meeting, the Ukrainian delegation presented Ms Kos with a medal marking UCCRO’s 30th anniversary.
Participants in the meeting with European Commissioner for Enlargement Marta Kos included UCCRO Chair and Bishop of the Reformed Church in Transcarpathia Sándor Zán Fábián, Primate of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine, Metropolitan of Kyiv and All Ukraine Epiphanius, Bishop of the Kyiv-Zhytomyr Diocese of the Roman Catholic Church in Ukraine Vitalii Kryvytskyi, head of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church’s Department for External Relations in Ukraine, Mitred Archpriest Oleksa Petriv, Senior Bishop of the Ukrainian Pentecostal Church Anatolii Kozachok, GELCU Bishop Pavlo Shvarts, Deputy Head of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine’s Department for External Church Relations, Metropolitan Yevstratiy, and Chairman of the Board of the Institute for Religious Freedom Oleksandr Zaiets.
The UCCRO delegation’s visit to Brussels, Belgium, is supported by the Konrad Adenauer Foundation’s office in Ukraine.
Original article: vrciro.ua