You're reading: Fule: Crimea could become priority region in cooperation with EU

Simferopol, Sept. 16 (Interfax-Ukraine) – EU Commissioner for Enlargement and European Neighborhood Policy Stefan Fule has said that the European Union is ready to support Crimea in the implementation of projects under the EU-funded Joint Cooperation Initiative in Crimea.

The main information department of the Crimean Council of Ministers reported that Fule said this during a meeting with Deputy Head of the Crimean government and Crimean Economic Development and Trade Minister Kateryna Yurchenko in Simferopol on September 15.

"The EU is ready to assist the reform launched in the republic and its development. We are interested in the economic and social development of the autonomy, the implementation of infrastructure projects and cooperation with the public. Crimea has a chance to become a priority region in cooperation with the EU," the EU commissioner said.

Fule also said that in the near future EU pilot development projects would be introduced in five regions of Ukraine, including Crimea.

"We are ready to introduce Crimea as an investment platform to the European Union, and assist gradual development of the autonomy’s districts," he said.

According to the EU commissioner, the autonomy’s government has managed to achieve significant progress in Crimea’s development, the republic’s directions of development remained the same, and active work on the region’s economic reform is being conducted.

The Crimean vice premier noted that implementation of the Joint Cooperation Initiative in Crimea, which was signed in May 2011 in Brussels by Crimean Premier Vasyl Dzharty and Fule, had started.

"We agreed on joint action with Head of the European Union Delegation to Ukraine Jose Manuel Pinto Teixeira our, determining directions for work and ways to develop resorts and tourism in the autonomy," Yurchenko said.

She also noted that EU experts had helped to develop a development strategy for Crimea to run until 2020 and a regional development office was opened in Simferopol with the assistance of the EU.

The Czech Republic helped to organize a tourist information center in Bakhchysaray. In addition, the EU information center was set up at the Tavria National University.

"We propose to open a EU visa center in Simferopol in the near future, and we are also ready to find premises for it," she said.

"All initiatives are working and realistic. Our interest towards Europe is systematic in many directions: tourism, economy, investments, experience exchange, culture and humanitarian sphere," Yurchenko said.

As reported, Crimean Premier Vasyl Dzharty and EU Commissioner for Enlargement and European Neighborhood Policy Stefan Fule signed an agreement on funding of the Joint Cooperation Initiative in Crimea in Brussels in May 2011.

According to the document, the EU will transfer EUR 12 million for economic development of Crimea and Sevastopol over the next four years.