A delegation from the Association of Ukrainian Banks carried out a busy schedule in Brussels, participating in the third EU-Ukraine Business Summit and holding a series of important meetings with leading European institutions.
EU-Ukraine Business Summit 2026
On April 22–23, 2026, the AUB delegation joined the third EU-Ukraine Business Summit—one of the key platforms for dialogue between Ukraine and the European Union. The event was organized by European Business Summits and the European Commission in cooperation with the governments of Ukraine and Poland and brought together representatives of government, European institutions, international financial organizations, and the business community.
During the panel discussions on the first day, participants discussed economic development, expanding cooperation with the EU, and integration into the European market. The central theme was the implementation of European rules and regulations in Ukraine’s financial sector.
AUB President Andriy Dubas emphasized:
“The European Union’s regulatory framework defines general approaches, but its practical implementation is the responsibility of national institutions. It is important for Ukraine to apply a balanced approach, taking into account the experience of new EU member states for effective implementation necessary changes.”
Meeting at DG FISMA
As part of its Brussels program, the AUB delegation held a meeting with John Berrigan, Director-General of DG FISMA. DG FISMA is the European Commission’s directorate-general responsible for regulatory policy in the areas of financial stability, financial services, and capital markets.
AUB President Andriy Dubas emphasized the issue of proportionality of the regulatory burden depending on the size of the financial institution—an approach that is critical for the effective implementation of EU standards in Ukraine. He also noted that the level of equivalence of Ukraine’s banking regulation to EU standards already stands at 85–87% according to NBU data. In the non-bank financial sector, implementation is ongoing—the National Bank plans to complete it within one to two years, and the AUB actively supports this process.
Separately, the parties discussed the experience of the Ukrainian banking sector amid a full-scale invasion: the financial system continued to operate without interruption—banks did not cease operations, and the payment infrastructure functioned stably. John Berrigan noted this experience as unique and expressed respect for the work of Ukrainian financial institutions under wartime conditions.
Following the meeting, Andriy Dubas presented John Berrigan with a plaque titled “Courage”—featuring a fragment of an armored cash transport vehicle that saved lives on the front lines at the start of the full-scale invasion
Meeting at the European Banking Federation Headquarters
The AUB delegation also held a meeting at the European Banking Federation’s headquarters with EBF Vice President Sébastien Debrouve and Director of International Relations Blazej Blaszikiewicz.
The discussion covered a wide range of issues: the competitiveness of the European banking sector compared to the U.S., the U.K., and China; the specifics of regulating banks of different sizes and the principle of proportionality in the regulatory burden; and various types of banking licenses—taking this experience into account during the implementation of Ukrainian legislation on the path to the EU.
The AUB President presented a project to expand the circle of partner banks in cooperation with international financial organizations to support small and medium-sized businesses. The topic of financing the defense industry was also raised—both for Ukrainian companies operating in Europe and those operating in Ukraine. In this context, a memorandum of cooperation was presented between the AUB and the defense division of the Federation of Employers of Ukraine: the Association is ready to serve as a liaison between financial institutions and defense sector enterprises to strengthen the defense capabilities of both Ukraine and Europe.
Andriy Dubas emphasized:
“The reforms of Ukraine’s financial sector, launched after 2014, and the experience of operating amid a full-scale war have built trust in Ukraine as a partner in the European regulatory dialogue. The AUB’s Brussels program is part of this systematic work, which the Association continues at the level of leading EU institutions.”
Currently, the AUB is continuing to review the results of the meetings and is preparing specific proposals for discussion in the Association’s committees.
