Liberalization of trade between Ukraine and the EU, namely "industrial visa-free regime" and the integration of country’s energy system into the European Network of Transmission System Operators for Electricity (ENTSO-E) are concrete Government steps for further European integration of Ukraine. This was stated by Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal during a meeting with the Ambassadors of the European Union Member States.

The meeting participants tackled topical issues. In particular, they summed up the results of the 7^th meeting of the EU-Ukraine Association Council, which took place on February 11.

As a result of the meeting, according to Denys Shmyhal, both parties agreed on further joint steps, first of all, in terms of integration into the EU internal market and deepening sectoral integration.

"We have agreed to conduct a comprehensive review process of achievement of the objectives of the Association Agreement this year and, in particular, reaffirmed our readiness to launch consultations on the further review of trade liberalization in the framework of the Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area (DCFTA)," the Prime Minister said.

The Head of Government also expressed gratitude to the European Union for funding the COVAX initiative, under which Ukraine expects the first batch of vaccines in the amount of 117,000 doses, as well as 8 and more million doses this year.

Denys Shmyhal stressed that Ukraine, for its part, had exerted every effort to provide Ukrainians with an effective vaccine.

"We have concluded enough contracts with manufacturers so that everyone can be vaccinated, and the appropriate funds have been allocated. Unfortunately, there is a shortage of vaccines today, and European Union countries have also experienced it. Everyone notes that the problem is the same – time for delivery of vaccines keeps shifting," Denys Shmyhal underscored.

During the meeting, the sides also touched upon attracting investment in Ukraine's economy. Denys Shmyhal said that the Government at the last meeting had authorized UkraineInvest to support large-scale investment projects, being an important step in implementing the initiative of the President of Ukraine.

"We are making every possible effort to ensure conducive business conditions for investors. Starting from Diia (Action) City, ending with the introduction of the RAB-tariff formula in the energy sector. This is an absolutely European tool designed to reduce the cost of connecting investors to the power grid, which was one of the lowest indicators of Ukraine in the Doing Business rating," said the Prime Minister.

The Prime Minister briefed the Ambassadors of European Union countries on certain priority tasks of the Government for 2021 which include the completion of land reform and the "Great Privatization project".

"Last year we successfully kicked off and carried out small-scale privatization, this year we committed to raising up to UAH 12 billion from the sale of large-scale privatization objects," Denys Shmyhal underscored.