Dear Ms. President Grybauskaitė!
Dear Presidents, Heads of Government, Ministers!
Dear Ladies and Gentlemen!
Ukraine and the EU have entered the final stage of concluding the
Association Agreement. I am confident that it will open a new page in the
development of Ukrainian state and bring our relations with the EU and its
member-states to the qualitatively new level.
I reaffirm the intentions of Ukraine to sign the Association Agreement in
the nearest future.
Ukraine and the EU have been going a difficult path of negotiations and
search for compromises for 6 years already.
There are only several crucial steps left to be made. They are related
to the necessity of creating preconditions that will ensure maximum results
from the implementation of the Agreement.
I am convinced that Ukraine and the EU will decently go through this
final stage. Its main task should be the implementation of the program of joint
measures aimed at the adaptation of Ukrainian economy to the new realities.
Given the new trade-economic conditions, Ukraine must prepare not only
to the timely implementation of the Association Agreement, but also to the
minimization of negative consequences of the initial period that will be
definitely felt by the most vulnerable groups of Ukrainians.
Thus, our joint work over the program of economic assistance to Ukraine
is essential for it will let us prepare to the signature of the Agreement.
We consider that such program should become the result of joint efforts
of Ukraine and the EU.
I am confident that due to the given work, the existing contradictions
will be eliminated providing an opportunity to sign the Agreement and go the
determined strategic way of European integration without serious economic
losses.
Dear participants of the Summit!
The European choice remains a strategic vector of further civilizational
development of Ukraine and strengthening of its place and role in the modern
competitive world.
For Ukraine, the Association Agreement is a detailed plan of
comprehensive modernization under European values and standards.
Recently we have achieved a substantial progress on the way of necessary
reforms. We are willing to continue this work.
The forced break in the process of concluding the Agreement does not
mean the cessation of European integration reforms that are extremely essential
for Ukraine.
At the same time, unfortunately, Ukraine has been left face to face with
serious financial and economic problems recently.
That is why today we would like our European partners to meet halfway
with Ukraine in the development and implementation of the program of financial
and economic assistance with the use of all available mechanisms and resources
of institutions and member-states of the EU.
Among these measures, in our view, would be the following:
First. To unlock the programs of budget sectoral support of the EU and
to provide resources of macro-financial assistance.
Second. Efficient support from international financial institutions. In
this context, Ukraine is interested in the earliest possible restoration of
efficient cooperation on acceptable terms with the International Monetary Fund
and the World Bank.
Third. Revision of trade restrictions on individual items of Ukrainian
exports, including those imposed already in the past century, by the EU.
Fourth. We count on active participation of the EU and international
financial institutions in the modernization of Ukrainian gas transport system
as the key element of the European energy network and on the ensuring of energy
independence of Ukraine by all necessary measures and mechanisms of the EU.
We hope that the member-states of the EU will revise their position on
the construction of economically unreasonable facilities on transportation of
natural gas to Europe bypassing Ukraine.
Fifth. Another important part of this work should be a coordinated plan
of actions aimed at the elimination of contradictions and settlement of
problems in trade-economic cooperation with Russia and other members of the
Customs Union related to the establishment of free trade area between Ukraine
and the EU.
In this context, I would be grateful for your support in the issue of
initiating respective cooperation in the format Ukraine – EU – Russia.
Ladies and Gentlemen!
After Vilnius, additional efforts will be also essential in other
spheres of our interaction in order to ensure more ambitious rapprochement of
states-partners with the EU.
Visa-free regime is an indisputable priority among such spheres. I am
confident that the best step that would demonstrate the willingness of the EU
to open their doors for us would be the introduction of visa-free regime for
Ukrainian citizens.
In our turn, we are ready to finish the fulfillment of respective Plan
of Actions as soon as possible. We count on understanding, support and
solidarity of the EU in this extremely important issue.
Dear colleagues!
Further success of the Initiative requires determination of clear goals
and objectives of the “Eastern Partnership”.
In this context, strategic discussion on the ways to optimize the
economic cooperation between the EU and the member-states of the Initiative and
recognition of the European prospects for the interested states-partners could
begin today and gain clear features before the next Summit “Eastern
Partnership” in Latvia.
It would provide a powerful impetus to the future “Eastern
Partnership” and to further implementation of domestic reforms by the
member-states.
In conclusion I would like to emphasize once again: Ukraine remains
committed to its European choice. Thus, it counts on solidarity and support
from the EU, its member-states and states-partners.
Thank you!
