Ivanna Klympush-Tsintsadze: Providing additional trade preferences is an important sign of political and practical assistance to the Ukrainian economy

During a working visit to Brussels Ivanna Klympush-Tsintsadze, Vice Prime Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration of Ukraine, met with EU Commissioner for European Neighbourhood Policy and Enlargement Negotiations Johannes Hahn as well as with EU Commissioner for Trade Cecilia Malmström.

With Johannes Hahn, the Vice Prime Minister discussed a wide range of topical issues of bilateral relations between Ukraine and the EU, as well as the implementation of European integration reforms by our State. The Ukrainian party presented the key outcomes of the first stage of operation of the e-asset declaration system.

The EU Commissioner expressed satisfaction with the timely launch of the e-declaration process in Ukraine, and also confirmed the EU's willingness to consider the provision of financial support in the implementation of a public governance reform, anti-corruption reform and to promote efforts of Ukraine in migration management.

Ivanna Klympush-Tsintsadze thanked the European side for the Activity Report. The first 18 months of the Support Group for Ukraine. "I am delighted that the report reflects real achievements in the reform process, we have managed to reach, in particular due to the support of the EU," she said.

One of the core topics for discussion was considering ways to complete the ratification of the Association Agreement between Ukraine and the European Union. Ivanna Klympush-Tsintsadze stressed the importance of active cooperation between the EU institutions, the Government of the Netherlands and Ukraine to find mutually acceptable solution on this issue.

The interlocutors also focused upon visa liberalization issue. The Vice Prime Minister noted that Ukraine had met all the criteria of the Action Plan and expressed hope for a speedy completion of internal procedures by the EU on introducing a visa-free regime for Ukrainian citizens.

A separate attention was paid to the preparation for the Ukraine-EU summit in Brussels on 24 November.

A meeting with the EU Commissioner for Trade Cecilia Malmström was devoted to considering the state of implementation of the DCFTA between Ukraine and the EU, as well as realization by the Government of relevant economic reforms. Ukraine’s Vice Prime Minister thanked the EU Commissioner for a package of trade support measures for Ukraine provided by the European Commission, a key element of which is the proposal to render Ukraine additional trade preferences. "This is an important sign of political and practical assistance to the Ukrainian economy that demonstrates the potential benefits of a free trade zone between Ukraine and the EU and encourages our producers to diversify export markets," stressed Ivanna Klympush-Tsintsadze.

Apart from that, the top officials of Ukraine and the EU talked about the cooperation between Ukraine and the EU in combating economic aggression of Russia.