01 October 2010, 18:51
On Friday, Volodymyr Lytvyn, Chairman of The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, met Carl Bildt, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Sweden
The meeting was held in the framework of the Seventh Annual Yalta Meeting "Ukraine and World: Re-Thinking and Moving On."
V.Lytvyn highly appreciated that Sweden supported European integration pursuit of Ukraine. He laid emphasis on another important initiative of this state, the Eastern Partnership, which complements Ukraine´s movement towards the European Union. V.Lytvyn and C.Bildt stressed that this program was of great significance, as it enhanced energy efficiency and environmental protection in Ukraine.
The Parties analyzed the state of negotiations between Ukraine and the EU as to the signing of the agreement on political association, a free trade zone agreement and the visa-free regime action plan. V.Lytvyn and C.Bildt singled out the free trade zone agreement as the most important element of the negotiations, as it would give access to the European market, and support a dynamic development of national economy and introduction of innovations.
V.Lytvyn and C.Bildt also discussed common approaches to the discussion of the future of Ukraine and the EU under the conditions of lasting globalization, which would take place on Saturday.