Kyiv/Brussels, May 31 (Interfax-Ukraine) – Ukrainian First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister Economic Development and Trade Andriy Kliuyev and EU Commissioner for Enlargement and European Neighborhood Policy Stefan Fule met in Brussels on Tuesday and discussed preparations for the next round of talks on the creation of a free trade area between Ukraine and the EU, which will be held in Kyiv on June 20-24, 2011.
The press office of the first deputy prime minister reported that Kliuyev and Fule had reaffirmed the common desire of both parties to complete the talks on the association agreement, including a free trade area, by the end of this year.
Kliuyev noted that the issue of the visa-free regime with the EU was a priority for the Ukrainian government and informed Fule about the measures being taken by Ukraine to implement a respective action plan.
Kliuyev also briefed Fule on socio-economic reforms being conducted in Ukraine, in particular, on measures to deregulate the economy and improve the investment climate.
Fule noted at a press conference after the meeting that he had discussed with Kliuyev the progress in talks on the association agreement, the free trade area, and the visa-free regime.
"We also talked about political reform. The success of the association agreement is based not only on economic progress. Much depends on shared values – the rule of law, electoral law, the freedom of assembly and the press," Fule said.
Earlier on Tuesday, Prime Minister Mykola Azarov said that the agreement on the establishment of a free trade area between Ukraine and the European Union was almost ready, although three issues remained unresolved.
Azarov noted at a meeting with Greek Foreign Minister Dimitrios Droutsas that Kliuyev had been given the green light to reach compromises.
At their meeting in Brussels on Tuesday, Kliuyev and Fule signed an agreement between the Ukrainian government and the European Commission to fund the Community Based Approach to Local Development Project – Stage II.
