Ukraine will continue, with the support of the European Union, to carry out critical structural reforms to improve the well-being of its citizens. This was stated by the Prime Minister of Ukraine Denys Shmyhal during a meeting with the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy / Vice-President of the European Commission Josep Borrell.

The Head of the Ukrainian Government noted that the state paid great attention to the implementation of the initiated reforms, in particular the reform of justice.

"Among the reforms we have launched is the implementation of the European Green Deal policy. Ukraine has set an ambitious goal in this direction. We are also prolonging the reform of privatization and corporatization. The year of 2022 should be a breakthrough in the pursuing of these reforms," stressed Denys Shmyhal.

The Prime Minister noted that Ukraine had already earned a successful experience of implementing certain reforms, inter alia decentralization and land reform. According to him, this experience will be used to implement other reforms.

Moreover, Denys Shmyhal noted that Ukraine was preparing for the next meeting of the EU-Ukraine Association Council, where it plans to summarize the work of the past year and discuss the implementation of decisions of the 23rd Ukraine-EU Summit.

The Prime Minister proposed to hold a meeting of the Association Council in April this year. For his part, Josep Borrell reaffirmed the EU's readiness to hold the next meeting in Brussels in the stated time.

According to Denys Shmyhal, the key areas of work within the Association Council for Ukraine will be updating some annexes to the Association Agreement, measures to implement the European Green Deal, as well as joining the SEPA (Single Euro Payments Area), which will have a positive impact on development of financial operations sector.

"Against the background of gas shortages and high prices on energy carriers, security of energy supply must also remain our top priority in regional cooperation. In this direction, we are working with extreme vigour and persistence to connect the Ukrainian energy system to the European network ENTSO-E," said the Prime Minister of Ukraine.

He added that Ukraine had so far met all the requirements of technical audits. At present, there are only two steps left: to work in isolation to show the balance of Ukraine's energy system, and a positive political decision by the EU.

Another important point of work, according to the Prime Minister, is the launch of the sixth macro-financial assistance program.

"It is also important for us to start substantive negotiations on accelerating the liberalization of mutual trade in accordance with Article 29 of the Association Agreement and further progress in concluding ACAA agreements, or so-called industrial visa-free regimes," stressed the Ukrainian Prime Minister.

In addition, according to the Prime Minister, the parties should focus on finding ways to address a problem of the lack of permits for the transit of road transport.

At the end of the meeting, Denys Shmyhal thanked the European Union for its support and appreciation of the progress of reforms in Ukraine.