EU hosts meeting on cooperation with Ukraine and Eastern Partnership
Commissioner for Enlargement and European Neighbourhood Policy Štefan Füle, said: "Today's meeting with International Financial Institutions was a good opportunity to discuss the reform process as well as to improve coordination and shape upcoming decisions together. The European Union is committed to proceed with signing the Association Agreement as soon as Ukraine demonstrates determined action and tangible progress in the areas of justice, elections and Association Agenda reforms. We hope to sign the Association Agreement with Ukraine at the Eastern Partnership summit in Vilnius in November where we also hope to conclude the negotiations on the Association Agreements with Georgia, Moldova and Armenia and advance in our negotiations with Azerbaijan."
A high-level meeting took place between the European Union and major international and European financial institutions in Brussels today to discuss the Eastern Partnership and Ukraine in particular.
Chaired by Commissioner for Enlargement and European Neighbourhood Policy Štefan Füle the meeting touched upon the level of engagement with Ukraine and its Government. It was an important opportunity to assess the status of reforms, improve coordination and decision-making.
Although the main discussion today focused on Ukraine, it covered as well future interaction in the Eastern Partnership region as a whole in the run up to the summit in Vilnius. The topics covered important sectors such as energy, transport, and horizontal issues of governance and business climate.
Background
The meeting was attended by the European Investment Bank (EIB) and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) both representing European Financial Institutions. The World Bank and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) represented the International Financial Institutions. From the EU side, the meeting was attended by the European External Action Service and major Commission services: Directorate General for Economic and Financial Affairs, Energy, Trade, Transport, Development and Cooperation.