Ukraine is interested in preserving high dynamic political dialogue with the European Union, including at the highest level. This was stressed by the Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada Volodymyr Rybak during the meeting with the Head of the EU Mission to Ukraine Ian Tombinsky on Wednesday.
During the meeting the Parties exchanged ideas in regard to further steps in developing Ukraine-EU cooperation, including its parliamentary component.
“Ukraine is interested in preserving high dynamic political dialogue with the European Union, including at the highest level. Current stage of relations between our state and the EU is of special importance,” Volodymyr Rybak said.
Volodymyr Rybak noted that the Ukrainian Party makes consistent efforts to ensure further progress of implementing reforms, including spheres that compel special attention of the EU. In this context, he stressed, the Verkhovna Rada will concentrate all its efforts on adopting the respective legislation.
The Chairman of the Parliament expressed confidence that the Ukrainian Party will be ready to show the respective progress during key events in the line of Ukraine-EU. Particularly, the EU-Ukraine Summit which is scheduled for February 25, 2013 in Brussels, the EU-Ukraine Cooperation Council scheduled for June 24-25, 2013 in Luxemburg, and the East Partnership Summit planned for November 29, 2013 in Vilnius.
He assured Ian Tombinsky that the respective structures soon will be established in order to promote active bilateral cooperation within the EU-Ukraine Parliamentary Cooperation Committee and within the multilateral dimension of Parliamentary Assembly.
The Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada emphasized that Ukraine is interested in quickest possible signing of the Association Agreement and its enactment. “In this context, special attention should be attached to deepened and comprehensive free trade zone, establishing of which is stipulated by the Agreement,” he said, adding that “conclusion of the Association Agreement would be the best impetus for Ukraine from the point of view of further introduction of comprehensive reforms, strengthening of democratic development and the rule of law”.
Thereat, the Chairman of the Parliament noted that cooperation with the European Parliament on the key Ukraine-EU agenda items is extremely important.
In this context, he also expressed confidence that the 16th EU-Ukraine Summit will become both an important stage on the way to signing the EU-Ukraine Association Agreement and on the way to transition to the second Implementation phase of the Visa Liberalization Action Plan.
Volodymyr Rybak noted that the Third progress report on the implementation by Ukraine of the first phase of the Visa Liberalization Action Plan with the European Union is now being prepared to be referred to the European Commission. According to him, the majority of legislative acts required for conclusion of the first phase of the respective Action Plan have already been considered by the Parliament. “We hope all the legislative acts necessary for conclusion of its implementation to be approved as soon as possible”, he said and reminded that it goes about several bills that are being developed by the Ministry of Justice, particularly the Law of Ukraine “To amend several legislative acts of Ukraine re prevention and combating discrimination in Ukraine”, the Law of Ukraine “On amendments to several legislative acts of Ukraine re improvement of the institutional system of personal data protection”, as well as the respective bills in the sphere of combating corruption.
With reference to further simplification of visa regime between Ukraine and the EU, Volodymyr Rybak stressed the importance of quick enactment of the Agreement on amending Visa Facilitation Agreement. “The Verkhovna Rada is ready to quickly consider the respective bill,” he reassured.
In his turn, Ian Tombinsky stressed that “the parliament is the backbone of democracy, the place, where different views are expressed, but only legislative acts that meet the interests of the majority of people and country are adopted”. He expressed hope that all the necessary decisions will be adopted before the EU-Ukraine Summit. In the context of legislative support of these decisions, he expressed conviction that “proper implementation of laws, their stability and transparency is most important”.
The Parties have also discussed the issue of participation of the European Commissioner for Enlargement and Neighbourhood Policy European Commission Stefan Fule in the meeting of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine. The speech of the European Commissioner before the people’s deputies of Ukraine is planned for February 7, 2013. The representatives of diplomatic missions in Ukraine will be invited to the meeting.
Volodymyr Rybak renewed invitation to the President of the European Parliament Mr. M. Schulz to visit Ukraine in the nearest time.