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President of the Committee of the Regions of the European Union Luc Van den Brande President of the Committee of the Regions of the European Union Luc Van den Brande has expressed hope that once Ukraine will enter the European Union.

He gave his views on Saturday, speaking to students of Taurida National University in Simferopol, where from May 2009 an information center of the European Union has been opened.

Brande said that it is important for Ukraine to take part in the EU Eastern Partnership Program, which was drafted to reinforce political and economic links with six countries of the former Soviet Union – Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine.

“I hope that once Ukraine will join the European Union,” he said.

He said that Ukraine for the European Union is one of the most important partners in the Eastern Partnership.

Brande said that during his visit he plans to clear out how to establish cooperation not only at the EU level and states that are members of the Eastern Partnership, but also a chance to establish partnership relations between European regions and the regions of the said six countries.

“Our goal is to build a new network so that we can realize joint projects. We work in tight cooperation with the European Commission,” he said.

He said that Crimea and Sevastopol are top-priority partners as a part of Eastern Partnership.