Volodymyr Rybak: Further promotion of systemic reforms to create favorable conditions for signing the Association Agreement
06 September 2013, 10:22
On Friday, the Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine Volodymyr Rybak met with the Speaker of Lithuanian Seimas Vidas Gedvilas in Vilnius, where the Chairman of the Ukrainian Parliament is on a working visit. The Parties discussed the state of implementation of the tasks Ukraine has to accomplish in order to secure signing of the Association Agreement.
“European integration of Ukraine is our civilizational choice. It is Ukraine’s development plan. Leadership of the country staked at the association with the European Union,” stressed Volodymyr Rybak. He added that there is understanding at different levels that “in order to establish favorable conditions for signing the Agreement, there is a need in further promotion of systemic reforms”.
Particularly, Volodymyr Rybak noted that he “means the spheres that are constantly in the focus of the EU: judicial reforms, development of a stable electoral system, fighting corruption and improving business environment”.
He stressed the importance of visa liberalization regime for Ukraine, since “this is one of the top priorities of the Euro-integrational course of our state, the same as establishment of a free trade zone for introduction of European standards and implementation of internal socio-economic reforms”.
The Chairman of the Ukrainian Parliament believes that “signing of the Association Agreement and progress in the visa dialogue with the EU shall be a real achievement for Ukraine during the Eastern Partnership Summit in Vilnius”.
The Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine expressed his gratitude to the leadership of Lithuania and personally to Mr. Vidas Gedvilas and to the parliament members of the national and European parliaments for the support of implementation of the European integration course by Ukraine.