The dialogue at expert level was held in a friendly and constructive atmosphere, with an exchange on a wide range of issues of mutual interest and concern, as well as discussions on possibilities for concrete cooperation in the field of human rights. The EU delegation was headed by Mr Dirk Schuebel, Head of the Eastern Partnership Bilateral Division at the European External Action Service. The Ukrainian delegation was headed by Mr Anton Yanchuk, Deputy Minister of Justice of Ukraine.

The dialogue allowed in particular for an exchange of views on the investigations into crimes committed during the Euro-Maidan protests, the human rights situation in Eastern Ukraine and in Crimea, elections and electoral framework, freedom of assembly, freedom of expression, antidiscrimination policy and rights of national minorities.

The EU encouraged Ukraine inter alia to conduct thorough and effective investigations into the human rights abuses during the Euro-Maidan protests, to adopt a legal framework governing freedom of assembly in line with international standards, to enhance media ownership transparency and to complete the work on comprehensive anti-discrimination legislation.

The EU-Ukraine human rights dialogue takes place in the context of a deepening relationship between both partners within the framework of the Eastern Partnership, in the wake of the signature of the EU-Ukraine Association Agreement.

In keeping with the EU’s practice of incorporating the voice of civil society into its meetings on human rights with third countries, the EU met with representatives of Ukrainian NGOs and international NGOs prior to the human rights dialogue.