On November 6, 2024 The International Law Committee of the Ukrainian Bar Association held an event «Investment Screening: How EU Experiences Can Enrich Ukrainian Realities?» This discussion, part of the ongoing webinar series «On the Way to the EU: What Does EU Accession Mean for Ukraine?» brought together Ukrainian and international experts to address the challenges and opportunities Ukraine faces as it advances toward EU membership.

The event spotlighted Ukraine's current efforts to develop a comprehensive investment screening framework. This framework, based on EU Regulation 2019/452, could create clearer standards for evaluating, authorizing, and, if necessary, restricting foreign investments that may impact national security and critical infrastructure. The EU's experience and established legal framework in this field offer an important model for Ukraine’s legislative development.

Speakers included leading experts:

• Steffen Hindelang, Executive Director of the CELIS Institute and Professor of International Investment and Trade Law at Uppsala University, Sweden, shared insights on EU investment screening practices and CELIS Institute initiatives.
• Mykyta Nota, Partner at Avellum, addressed enforcement gaps and practical aspects of FDI screening in Ukraine.
• Valentyna Hvozd, Partner at Sayenko Kharenko, discussed Ukraine's new approach to investment screening.
• Alyona Sumina, Acting Head of Legal Affairs and Regulatory Policy at UkraineInvest, explored the ongoing legislative initiatives aimed at attracting and securing investments in Ukraine.

The session was moderated by Olga Kuchmiienko, Ph.D., Attorney-at-Law and Head of the UBA’s International Law Committee, who emphasized the importance of leveraging EU practices to shape Ukraine's evolving investment landscape.

The UBA continues to support Ukraine’s journey toward EU alignment by fostering critical discussions and initiatives aimed at strengthening Ukraine’s legal and regulatory frameworks for sustainable economic growth and investment security.

Tags: UBA committees, UBA activities, UBA events