European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker's remarks at the joint press point with European Council President Donald Tusk, and Petro Poroshenko, President of Ukraine

Brussels, 17 March 2016

Mister President, Dear Petro, Dear Donald,

I will be very brief. I was happy to have this meeting with my good friend Poroshenko. We are spending a lot of time on the phone, but it is by far more comfortable to have physical meetings. I just wanted to remind you that yesterday the European Commission - always ready to step up the humanitarian assistance to Ukraine - has decided a new humanitarian aid package worth EUR 20 million. This is showing our ongoing support for Ukraine and for the reform process in that country, which is a very impressive one.

As far as visa liberalisation is concerned, we have a shared interest in making it easier for our citizens to travel to each other's countries. Ukraine, in the last days and hours, has undertaken huge reforms, mainly as far as the adoption of the e-declarations law is concerned or as far as the appointment of the members of the Anti-corruption Agency is concerned. These steps – and I know that the President took a personal interest in this and was very much engaged in that direction – these steps taken by Ukraine will allow us as the Commission to make a proposal for visa liberalisation in April.

Thank you.

European Commission

http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_SPEECH-16-862_en.htm