Ukraine’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Dmytro Kuleba and EU Commissioner for Neighborhood and Enlargement Oliver Varhelyi during a video call agreed to speed up joint work on concluding an agreement on an “industrial visa-free regime” and to give an additional impetus to the work on updating the Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area between Ukraine and the EU, the MFA has said.
“The interlocutors agreed to speed up joint work to prepare for the conclusion of an “industrial visa-free regime” agreement between Ukraine and the EU (an Agreement on Conformity Assessment and Acceptance of Industrial Products (ACAA)) after the negotiation process slowed down due to the coronavirus pandemic,” MFA said on Thursday.
As noted, the interlocutors paid special attention to EU support for Ukrainian small and medium-sized businesses.
“Kuleba and Varhelyi agreed to give an additional impetus to the work on updating the Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area between Ukraine and the EU, Ukraine’s accession to the Common Aviation Area Agreement, integration into the EU Single Digital Market, Ukraine’s participation as an integral part in the implementation of the European Green Deal,” the MFA said.
Kuleba separately noted EU humanitarian aid for vulnerable populations in the eastern regions of the country that were most affected by Russian aggression.
In addition, the interlocutors exchanged views on the future of the Eastern Partnership in the context of preparations for this year’s initiative summit.
Kuleba said Ukraine believes the Eastern Partnership will continue to proceed from its own European aspirations and European choice and commitment to further far-reaching deepening of political association and economic integration with the EU, including the gradual accession to the internal market of the European Union.
Varhelyi assured that Ukraine’s support on the European path was unchanged and that reforms were being implemented.
In addition, the EU Commissioner praised Ukraine’s strong response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
“You acted quickly, and this was of critical importance,” the MFA’s press service quoted him as saying.
