01 February 2016, 18:30
Chairperson of the Verkhovna Rada Volodymyr Groysman and Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign and European Affairs of Slovakia Miroslav Lajcak have discussed the cooperation between the two countries and the course of reforms in Ukraine.
In particular, Groysman noted that the Ukrainian Parliament "is now showing its ability to take important decisions destined to ensure implementation of reforms in Ukraine." He reminded that Ukraine has launched the establishment of the institutions to fight corruption, reformation of the National Police, the process of decentralization, introduction of the European model of management, and also started creating a legal framework to reform the sector of the public service.
Groysman also informed that the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine will eye the amendments to the Constitution of Ukraine touching justice on Tuesday, February 2.
The Chairperson of the Verkhovna Rada noted that a major priority for 2016 should be the recovery of the national economy.
Groysman also informed about the launch of the internal reform of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine. The roadmap on this reform, in words of the Ukrainian Speaker, will be presented during the Ukrainian week at the European Parliament in Brussels (Belgium) in late February - early March 2016.
In turn, Lajcak assured of Slovakia's readiness to continue assisting Ukraine in the future. In particular, he reminded that Slovakia had provided Ukraine with humanitarian aid for EUR 3 million and in 2015 imported 9.7 billion cubic meters of gas to Ukraine. He added that the figure can be raised at any moment. "Slovakia is ready to boost gas supplies," Lajcak said.
He noted that Slovakia's experience in the field of European integration and institutional reformation can be particularly useful for Ukraine and pointed out the importance of reforms despite the military aggression in the east of Ukraine.
"Of course your support is enormous," Chairperson of the Verkhovna Rada Volodymyr Groysman said and thanked Slovakia for its permanent support.