Lecture by Iryna YEFREMOVA, Deputy Director of Department – Head of the Common Foreign and Security Policy Division

On April 27, 2026, the Department of International Organizations and Diplomatic Service at the Institute of International Relations of Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv hosted an open guest lecture featuring Iryna YEFREMOVA, Deputy Director of Department and Head of the Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP) Division of the European Union Department at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine.

The event was organized as part of the "Foreign Policy of Ukraine" course (coordinated by Associate Professor Svitlana ANDRUSHCHENKO) for second-year students of the "International Relations" educational program.

The primary theme of the discussion was "European Integration of Ukraine." During the lecture, Ms. Yefremova provided a detailed analysis of the strategic aspects of Ukraine-EU cooperation, specifically focusing on:

• Accession Negotiations: The current status of the negotiation process regarding Ukraine's membership in the European Union.
• CFSP Implementation: The specifics of implementing the Common Foreign and Security Policy.
• Diplomatic Practice: The day-to-day operations and practical responsibilities of diplomats within the EU Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Students engaged in a professional Q&A session, addressing the challenges facing Ukrainian diplomacy on the path to EU membership. They also gained insights into the specific workflows of the MFA’s specialized department under current global conditions.

"This meeting served as a valuable practical supplement to the theoretical curriculum, allowing future international relations specialists to hear an analysis of current processes directly from an active participant on the diplomatic front."

We would like to express our gratitude to Ms. Iryna YEFREMOVA for such an insightful lecture and for sharing her professional expertise with the next generation of diplomats!