Second EU-Ukraine, Association Council: 'Reforms are first and foremost for the Ukrainian People'
Today saw the second meeting of the Association Council, a forum that takes stock of the progress of the EU - Ukraine Association Agreement.
Prime Minister of Ukraine, Arseniy Yatseniuk, chaired the meeting, the first time the Ukrainians had chaired a meeting at the Council.
The Association Council noted the significant progress that had been achieved since the last meeting, exactly a year ago and set the agenda for the next year with the short-term priority areas for reform, including the fight against corruption, public finance management, energy, decentralisation and the energy sector amongst others.
The High Representative was clear in her remarks that the reforms set out in the Association Agreement were first and foremost for the Ukrainian people, who were the first to demand the changes in Ukraine.
The Council also took stock of the developments on the ground in the East of Ukraine and the grave human rights situation in the Crimean peninsula whilst continuing to confirm the non-recognition of the illegally annexed Crimean peninsula and Sevastopol by the Russian Federation.
The EU-Ukraine Association Agreement was signed in 2014 and is an ambitious and pioneering document that is focussed on supporting core reforms in Ukraine, on economic recovery and growth - which includes trade in the form of a Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area (DCFTA) that will be provisionally applied from 1 January 2016 - good governance and sector co-operation in more than 30 areas including the environment, training and youth, culture, small and medium enterprises and consumer protection.
Links:
Joint Press Release following the Association Council meeting between the European Union and Ukraine
EU-Ukraine Association Agreement - Quick Guide to the Association Agreement
EU-Ukraine Association Agreement - Infographic
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