EU reaffirms support for reforms in Ukraine at Kyiv conference
Kyiv, 28 April 2015
The European Commission welcomes the
International Support for Ukraine Conference organised
by the Ukrainian authorities in Kyiv today. The conference offered an
opportunity to hear from the Ukrainian partners of the progress in the reform
process as well as the challenges ahead and to discuss the necessary measures
of support. At the event, the European Union reaffirmed its unprecedented level
of support for the reform process in Ukraine.
"The
EU supports Ukraine. Since March 2014, the EU and the European Financial
Institutions have mobilised € 6 billion in grants and
loans to help stabilise the macro-economic situation
in the country and facilitate the reform process; we are also using other
support tools such as unilateral trade measures. Important progress in reforms
has been achieved, but more must be done, in a credible and sustained way. The
contract the EU has with Ukraine is clear: You keep reforming and we will keep
supporting," said President of the European Commission
Jean-Claude Juncker, who delivered an opening speech
at the conference.
"We
know the reforms are difficult, but they will bring an enormous long-term gain
to Ukraine and its citizens," stated Vice-Presidents of the
European Commission Maroš Šefčovič
and Valdis Dombrovskis, and
Commissioner for European Neighbourhood Policy and
Enlargement Negotiations, Johannes Hahn, who all spoke at the conference.
They added: "Important steps have already been
taken, such as launch of the work of constitutional commission, progress in the
decentralisation process, adoption of a new gas
market law and progress in reducing regulatory and licensing requirements to
facilitate business. An anti-corruption package has also been adopted - it is
now imperative to implement it swiftly and efficiently. And the work in many
areas across the board - constitutional reform, decentralisation,
justice and civil sector reform, energy sector reform, improving business
climate - must continue."
European Commission