On May 7,2026, Yaryna Turchyn, a professor in the Department of Political Science and International Relations, director of the Educational and Research Center “European Studies for Students of Technical Specialties,” and project lead for EU_LEAD, participated in the panel discussion “Ukraine and the EU: Opportunity, Challenge, Necessity,” organized by the EU Information Center at Ivan Franko National University of Lviv with the support of the Delegation of the European Union to Ukraine as part of the Europe Day celebrations.
The event brought together students, faculty, and researchers interested in issues of Ukraine’s European integration and its future within the European space. During the discussion, participants addressed the current state of relations between Ukraine and the European Union, the prospects for Ukraine’s membership, as well as the political, economic, and social challenges standing in the way of integration.
The event was moderated by Oksana Kraievska, Ph.D. in Political Science, Associate Professor, and Acting Head of the Department of European and Regional Studies at the Faculty of International Relations of Ivan Franko National University of Lviv.
The panel discussion also featured leading scholars and experts in the field of European integration: Natalia Antoniuk—Doctor of Historical Sciences, professor in the Department of European and Regional Studies at the Faculty of International Relations of Ivan Franko National University of Lviv, and coordinator of the university’s EU Information Center; Mykhailo Mykievych — Doctor of Law, Professor, Head of the Department of European Law, and Associate Dean of the Faculty of International Relations at Ivan Franko National University of Lviv; Yuriy Bilenko — Candidate of Economic Sciences, Head of the Department of International Economic Analysis and Finance at the Faculty of International Relations of Ivan Franko National University of Lviv.
During the discussion, the speakers shared their views on the prospects for Ukraine’s integration into the European Union, discussed the political, economic, and legal aspects of this process, as well as the challenges facing Ukrainian society on the path to EU membership. Particular attention was paid to the role of the academic community, youth, and civil society in shaping Ukraine’s European future.
The event served as an important platform for open dialogue, the exchange of ideas, and deepening understanding of European integration processes among the university community.
