The entry into force and implementation of the provisions of the Association Agreement between Ukraine and the European Union gave a strong impetus to accelerating the pace of structural reforms in our country. Prime Minister of Ukraine Volodymyr Groysman said during a meeting with Johannes Hahn, Commissioner for European Neighborhood Policy and Enlargement Negotiations.

Commissioner noted that the progress of change in Ukraine is evident. "We would like to congratulate your government team on the implementation of reforms," said Johannes Hahn. He agreed that all issues that arise in the process of implementation of certain provisions of the Association Agreement can be and will be resolved within the limits of assumed by Ukraine commitments and existing procedures.

The Head of Government informed the Commissioner about the progress of the reforms in the pension system, healthcare and education sectors, reform of the civil service. Moreover, he accentuated that on the agenda, among other things, are privatization, pursuing a policy of energy efficiency and energy independence, as well as a reform of corporate governance in state-owned companies, in particular NJSC Naftogaz of Ukraine.

"We have managed to adopt a number of important reforms, in addition yesterday the Verkhovna Rada endorsed the draft state budget for 2018 in the first reading. A draft law on privatization has also been approved in the first reading," the Prime Minister stressed, adding that all these measures are taken to achieve the key goal which is sustainable economic growth in the country.

During the negotiations, the parties also touched upon the adoption and implementation of the Action Plan on the implementation of the Association Agreement. As expected, the monitoring of the fulfilled work within the scope of the plan and its updating will take place on a quarterly basis.

"In late October, we summoned a special meeting of the Government, reviewed the situation and problems in the process of implementation, approved the Government's plan of measures to execute the Agreement, and now we have embarked on preparing a road map of the cooperation between the Government and Parliament on the implementation of the Agreement. We put an emphasis on improving management processes," said Volodymyr Groysman.

A separate issue offered by the Head of Government for considering with the Commissioner Johannes Hahn was further support for Ukraine, especially in the implementation of socially valued reforms - in education, healthcare and decentralization, privatization and land relations.