Representatives of the Foreign Relations and the European Integration Committees met Working Party of the Council of the European Union on Eastern Europe and Central Asia (COEST)

23 June 2011, 17:25

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Ukrainian side was represented by Taras Chornovil, First Deputy Chair of the Foreign Affairs Committee, and Iryna Herashchenko, Chair of the Sub-Committee on Information Support of Integration of the European Integration Committee. Delegation of the Working Party of the Council of the European Union on Eastern Europe and Central Asia (COEST) was headed by the Chair of the Committee for Central Asia and Eastern Europe (European External Action Service). Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Hungary to Ukraine Mihály Bayer also attended the meeting.

 

The Working Party on Eastern Europe and Central Asia (COEST) works on EU relations with the countries in Eastern Europe and Central Asia. Tha party consists of the diplomatic counselors of standing missions of EU member-states in Brussels. This body shapes and represents the stands of the member-states, and together with other working parties of the EU Council works upon the resolutions concerning the region, submitting them to the Committee of Permanent Representative (COREPER) in the Council of Ministers of the European Union.

 

The visit of COEST delegation to Ukraine is organized on the initiative of Hungary´s chairmanship in EU as an important occasion for informing the diplomats of EU member-states, and for the Ukrainian party to express its views concerning key issues of Ukraine-EU cooperation and fundamental reforms in Ukraine.

 

The parties discussed the European prospects of Ukraine and extension of relations between Ukraine and EU as an essential and logical step towards conclusion of agreements on accession to the EU. 

 

Taras Chornovil, First Deputy Chair of the Foreign Affairs Committee, welcomed the guests from the EU member-states. He stressed that most parliamentary forces of Ukraine support strengthening of relations in the spheres which foster political and economic integration between Ukraine and the European Union on the principles of mutual rights and obligations. These spheres include support of international peace and security, direct participation of Ukraine in policies, agencies and programs of the EU, common actions to support national security of the Ukrainian State, formation of an extended and comprehensive Ukraine-EU free trade zone aimed at gradual integration of Ukraine to the internal market of the European Union.

 

Iryna Herashchenko, Chair of the Sub-Committee on Information Support of Integration of the European Integration Committee, informed the European experts about the activity of the European Integration Committee in part of harmonization of Ukrainian laws with the European ones. She stated that the Committee reviews 70 per cent of the bills scrutinized for the first reading.  

 

The Chair of the Committee for Central Asia and Eastern Europe attached great importance to the visit of the delegation to Ukraine. He stated, "Such visits are especially informative and important, as they bring up specific actions and reforms aimed at integration to the EU."  Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Hungary to Ukraine Mihály Bayer thanked the parliament members for organizing the meeting. He informed that next week the Embassy is holding the press conference dedicated to the accomplishments of Hungary´s chairmanship over the EU.

 

The participants of the meeting also discussed the new electoral laws of Ukraine.