Agro Perspectiva

President: Ukraine and EU confirmed willingness to make every effort to sign Association Agreement in November

27.02.2013 09:17 "Agro Perspectiva" (Kyiv) — Ukraine and EU confirmed willingness to make every effort to sign Association Agreement in November. It was stated by the President in his interview to journalists after the plenary session of the XVI Summit Ukraine-EU in Brussels on Monday, President Viktor Yanukovych Press Office reports. «Together with my colleagues, we have confirmed our common willingness to make every effort to sign this agreement in the course of the Summit „Eastern Partnership» that will be held in Vilnius in November," the Head of State said. Viktor Yanukovych stressed that particular attention in the course of the XVI Summit Ukraine-EU had been drawn to the implementation of the key task of the agenda-2013 - signing the Association Agreement between Ukraine and the EU. The President expressed gratitude to President of European Council Herman Van Rompuy and President of European Commission Jose Manuel Barroso for «sincere and constructive discussion». «Our meeting became a good opportunity to discuss the results of Ukraine’s work aimed at meeting the expectations of the EU in the context of the future transition of our relations to the format of political association and economic integration,» Viktor Yanukovych said. The Head of State noted that he had informed the EU leadership on the top-priority steps that Ukrainian government was making or planning to make in the context of domestic reforms and European integration. «We have discussed in details the steps of Ukraine in the context of improving the election legislation and the system of justice,» the President said. He expressed confidence that the dialogue Ukraine-EU on reformation of justice system would play an important part in that issue. «I noted that Ukraine was open to discuss the most difficult issues with its European partners,» the President said adding that communication in the framework of the Monitoring Mission of the European Parliament headed by Mr. Kvasnevsky and Mr. Cox provided positive opportunities for the parties in the given context. «I support its future functioning,» Viktor Yanukovych said. According to the Head of State, the progress of our country had also been mentioned in the context of the agenda of Ukraine-EU association. Viktor Yanukovych emphasized that Ukraine had made steps to reform the system of control over public finance. «This reform allowed us to settle the issue of macrofinancial assistance of the EU to Ukraine,» the President informed. He also noted that in order to strengthen cooperation on the improvement of investment climate in Ukraine and given the future establishment of FTA between Ukraine and the EU, the parties had made another step - signing of the document on initiating the dialogue between Ukraine and the EU on business-climate. The Head of State also informed that the parties «talked a lot about challenges of common energy security and prospects of enhancing cooperation in energy sphere». In his turn, President of European Council Herman Van Rompuy noted that the EU hoped to sign and ratify the Association Agreement with Ukraine recognizing its European aspirations and European choice. «I would like to encourage Viktor Yanukovych to make all the necessary steps in order to show the devotedness to the reforms and willingness to continue ambitious steps of the agenda on „Eastern Partnership»," he said. He also added that Ukraine had already made a number of steps to fulfill its obligations but much more progress was needed.