EU-Ukraine: Assessing progress and outstanding issues with S. Arbuzov
Brussels (30th April) - Commissioner for Enlargement and European Neighbourhood Policy Štefan Füle met in Brussels with Sergiy Arbuzov, First Deputy Prime Minister of Ukraine responsible for overseeing activities in the areas of Economic Development, Trade, Social Policy, Finance, Revenues and Taxes, Agriculture and Food.
The meeting provided an opportunity to discuss political and economic reforms envisaged in light of the conclusions of the December Foreign Affairs Council and last February's European Union-Ukraine Summit. Similar to the meeting with the Secretary of Ukraine’s National Security and Defence Council, Andriy Klyuyev, last week in Brussels, Commissioner Füle raised the progress in EU-Ukraine relations as well as several outstanding issues important in the context of the expected signature of the Association Agreement, including the issue of selective justice, notably the case of Yulia Tymoshenko.
“We have seen a number of processes launched in Ukraine to address the EU´s expectations and the Ukrainian government's own commitments and we look forward to see tangible progress in areas such as selective justice, electoral code and judiciary reforms. Our joint task is also to improve the business and investment climate in Ukraine, to be able to use to the full extent the foreseen economic integration of the Ukraine into the EU," Commissioner Füle said after the meeting.
His discussions with Deputy Prime Minister Arbuzov also focused on priorities related to advancing the EU-Ukraine agenda with particular focus on the macroeconomic situation in Ukraine. "We raised the importance of the government to take the lead in informing the Ukrainian public about the benefits of the Association Agreement for the citizens and about the readiness of the European Union to contribute to this," Commissioner Füle stated.
In discussing specific economic issues he emphasised the need to overcome major challenges in bilateral cooperation, including on public financial management, which is the main reason why budget support payments remain under review.