On October 30, the European Commission will publish an annual assessment of the progress of countries applying for membership in the European Union. This includes Ukraine, EU Ambassador to Ukraine Katarina Mathernova said in an interview with Suspilne.

Mathernova said that on October 30, that is, in less than two weeks, we will see the publication of the 2024 so-called enlargement package.

This is an annual assessment of the progress of the European Commission, according to which countries applying for EU membership are assessed. Ukraine will also be assessed.

She pointed out that since the beginning of the full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine, the EU has spent about EUR 15 million to support almost 150 media outlets engaged in fact-checking.

According to the ambassador, the situation is special in Ukraine, because there is little money. The county is waging a war, and it costs many lives, as well as money. Therefore, the European Union is one of those who strongly supports independent media, she said.

Mathernova specified that she personally participated in seminars for regional media, where journalists are trained. According to her, independent media and their support play a fundamental role in the process of Ukraine's European integration.