EU reaffirms support for reforms in Ukraine at Kyiv conference

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 i, 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 i, and Commissioner for European Neighbourhood Policy and Enlargement Negotiations, Johannes Hahn i, 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."

Speech by President Jean-Claude Juncker on "Reforming for Ukraine's future":

http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_SPEECH-15-4880_en.htm

Speech by Vice-President Maroš Šefčovič on "Ukraine as part of the European energy market":

http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_SPEECH-15-4888_en.htm

Speech by Valdis Dombrovskis:

http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_SPEECH-15-4881_en.htm

Speech by Johannes Hahn:

http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_SPEECH-15-4884_en.htm

More about the EU support for Ukraine:

http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_MEMO-15-4863_en.htm

The International Support for Ukraine Conference takes place in Kyiv a day after the EU-Ukraine Summit, the first after the signature of the EU-Ukraine Association Agreement almost a year ago. The Summit adopted the joint statement:

http://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/press/press-releases/2015/04/27-joint-statement-eu-ukraine-summit/

IP/15/4890

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