Strengthening the Ukraine–EU strategic partnership in the pharmaceutical sector: highlights from the conference in Vilnius
Last week, Vilnius (Lithuania) hosted the international conference “UA–EU: Strategic Partnership in the Pharmaceutical Sector,” organized by the Ministry of Health of Ukraine in cooperation with the Ministry of Economy, Environment and Agriculture, as well as a number of European institutions.
The event brought together representatives of public authorities from Ukraine and the European Union, including the European Commission's Directorate-General for Health and Food Safety (DG SANTE), the Health Emergency Preparedness and Response Authority (HERA), and the European Medicines Agency (EMA), as well as regulatory authorities from Lithuania, Denmark, Poland, Sweden, and Croatia; leading Ukrainian pharmaceutical manufacturers; industry associations; scientific institutions; international organizations; and donor organizations.
Among the key speakers were Maryna Slobodnichenko, Deputy Minister of Health of Ukraine for European Integration; Mykhailo Radutskyi, Chair of the Verkhovna Rada Committee on Public Health, Medical Care, and Medical Insurance; Adam Jarubas, Chair of the European Parliament Committee on Public Health; Nerimantas Steikūnas, Head of Administration and Corporate Management at EMA; Giorgos Rossides, Senior Expert at DG HERA; and Aude L’hirondel, Representative of the European Commission (DG SANTE).
In his video address, Adam Jarubas, Chair of the European Parliament's Committee on Public Health (SANT), reiterated his strong support for Ukraine and its people. He emphasized that Ukraine is an important partner of the EU in the pharmaceutical sector and highlighted the high level of development of Ukraine’s pharmaceutical industry and its alignment with European regulatory frameworks and standards. According to Mr. Jarubas, Ukraine's integration into the European pharmaceutical market will contribute to strengthening Europe's pharmaceutical security, particularly in the context of preparing the EU Critical Medicines Act.
The conference served as an important platform for open dialogue between Ukraine and the EU on the further development of the pharmaceutical sector and the gradual integration of the Ukrainian market into the EU’s single market. Discussions covered key topics such as the harmonization of regulatory policies, innovation development, investment attraction, and the participation of Ukrainian manufacturers in European supply chains.
In particular, speaking at the panel discussion “UA–EU Dialogue: The Political Dimension,” Deputy Minister of Health of Ukraine Maryna Slobodnichenko emphasized the strong capabilities of Ukraine’s pharmaceutical industry.
“Even under the conditions of a full-scale war, domestic manufacturers not only meet the needs of the local market but also demonstrate their readiness for full integration into European space. On our part, we are actively implementing European approaches; in particular, we are establishing an independent regulatory agency based on the model of EU countries and gradually adopting European legislation. In this context, Ukraine has significant competitive advantages: a well-developed manufacturing base, modern logistics infrastructure, and a highly qualified workforce. All of this makes us a reliable link in the European Union's pharmaceutical security system,”
A number of practical measures have already been implemented in this area. These include the Twinning project, which aims to establish a modern, transparent, and independent medicines regulatory authority in Ukraine. Simultaneously, production cooperation between Ukrainian and European companies is being expanded to address the shortage of critically important medicines in the EU market.
In addition, prior to the conference in Vilnius, the Ministry of Health of Ukraine, together with national and international partners, presented an overview dedicated to the capacity development of Ukraine’s pharmaceutical sector, its role in the economy, integration into the EU market, and the importance of investment, research, and education for the sector's development.
Among the practical outcomes of the conference was the signing of a memorandum of cooperation between the State Service of Ukraine on Medicines and Drugs Control and the regulatory authorities of the Republic of Lithuania. This represents an important step towards strengthening partnership in medicines regulation and increasing the transparency of processes.
Participants of the conference devoted particular attention to the localization of manufacturing critically important medicines in Ukraine. The discussions addressed creating favorable conditions for investors, specifically through the development of industrial parks, preferential taxation, and the introduction of military risk insurance mechanisms, which are already being implemented with the support of international partners, notably the Government of the United Kingdom.
During the discussions, participants shared successful cooperation experiences, considered implementation tools for the EU Critical Medicines Act, and reviewed the progress of the project to establish a state control authority in Ukraine. It was confirmed that Ukraine possesses all the necessary prerequisites for full integration into the EU pharmaceutical single market.
The conference in Vilnius marked a logical continuation of the international dialogue initiated during the Ukraine Recovery Conference (URC 2025) in Rome, where the Ministry of Health of Ukraine signed memoranda with leading European industry associations to develop strategic partnerships.
Following the event, participants agreed to continue substantive dialogue in Brussels at the level of representatives from the Ukrainian pharmaceutical industry, the Government of Ukraine, and the European Commission. The objective is to accelerate the development of practical measures for Ukraine's integration into the EU’s single pharmaceutical market.
The Ministry of Health of Ukraine expresses its gratitude to the European Commission; the Ministry of Health of Lithuania; the pharmaceutical agencies of Lithuania, Poland, Denmark, Sweden, and Croatia; as well as representatives of EU regulatory authorities, research institutions, business associations, and Ukrainian pharmaceutical manufacturers for their strategic support, expert engagement, and contributions to the development of a new framework for pharmaceutical security in Europe.
Video from the conference