During February 18 meeting, the Committee members granted a hearing to Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine on European integration Olena Zerkal on topical agenda issues of Ukraine-EU relations and prospects of ratifying the Association Agreement by the time of Riga Eastern Partnership Summit, to Deputy Minister of Justice of Ukraine on European integration Anton Yanchuk on visa-free dialogue between Ukraine and the EU, Ukraine's executing the Association Agreement in part of implementing reforms of law-enforcement bodies, judicial and constitutional reform and measures aimed at fighting corruption in Ukraine.
O.Zerkal said that among priorities of Ukraine-EU cooperation is work on consolidating EU political support in the context of Ukraine's counteraction to Russian aggression, Moscow's proper fulfillment of Minsk agreements, and strengthening EU sanctions on Russia. She informed that today EU sanction list included 151 physical persons and 37 legal persons. O.Zerkal stressed that organizing international conference on supporting reforms in Ukraine and ensuring cooperation with Ukraine's Support Group are extremely important. It is crucial to complete the second phase of the Action Plan to liberalize the EU visa regime for Ukraine and prepare for temporary application of the Association Agreement in part of deep and comprehensive free trade area between Ukraine and the EU by January 1, 2016.
She assured that all problematic issues connected with introducing biometric passports have been solved and embassies of EU member-states have started issuing visas in biometric passports.
Director of department of European integration of the Ministry of Economic Development and Trade Viacheslav Tsymbal provided information on economic situation in Ukraine and on prospects of introducing deep and comprehensive free trade area.
The meeting was also attended by director of the governmental office on European integration Hnydiuk N.A. and deputy director of the office Kuzio M.S.