28 May 2009, 12:12
Volodymyr Lytvyn, Chairman of The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, expects a positive resolution concerning creation of a free Ukraine-EU trade zone under the presidency of Sweden over the European Union.
"This issue is not only of economic nature for Ukraine and Europe, but also of political, as it presupposes that Ukraine will continue its democratic European pursuits, - stated V.Lytvyn on Thursday, meeting Per Westerberg, Speaker of the Parliament of Sweden (Riksdag). We hope that a number of issues appertaining to the European choice of Ukraine will be settled".
V.Lytvyn also deems necessary to alleviate visa-regime for Ukrainian citizens visiting EU member-countries.
In his turn, the Speaker of the Riksdag stated that Swedish parliament members upheld the idea of extending the EU, and stressed that presiding over the European Union, Sweden would exert every effort to boost relations of the EU with the countries of the Eastern Europe. According to P. Westerberg, Sweden "welcomes extension of trade relations between Sweden and Ukraine, as well as between Ukraine and other countries of the European Union".
"We hope that support of the idea concerning extension of the EU will serve as a good incentive for all non-EU countries, as they shall comply with the standards of the European Union".
P. Westerberg defined priorities of Sweden for the period of its presidency over the European Union, namely, protection of the environment and climate, energy saving, fighting corruption and crimes.
The Chairman of The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine considers such an action plan "to be of great necessity and efficiency". He stated that European countries should unite their efforts "to reflect over the prospects of development of Europe and the entire world". According to V.Lytvyn, "new centers of influence will appear after the financial and economic crisis is over, and Europe should become one of them, securing stability and security of the world".
The Parties expressed their common stand, pursuant to which, Ukraine has to fulfill "a serious home assignment" to develop further relations with the EU and comply with the European standards. Thus, according to V.Lytvyn, Ukraine has to demonstrate economic and political stability.
V.Lytvyn and P. Westerberg also called for introducing "a parliamentary dimension" of the "Eastern Partnership" initiative.
The Chairman of The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine believes that the official visit of the Speaker of the Riksdag "will present an opportunity to assess all the aspects of cooperation between the countries", and promote further dialogue at the level of legislative and executive authorities.
V.Lytvyn considers energy saving as one of the priority areas of bilateral cooperation. He considers Sweden´s experience in the field of gender policy also of great use.