COPENHAGEN, Denmark — Ukrainian Prime Minister Volodymyr Groysman has called for the creation of create a new high-level group tasked with assessing the real state of reforms in Ukraine and charting out the next steps the country should take.
Groysman made the call at the second international conference dedicated to the reform process in Ukraine, held in Lyngby near the Danish capital Copenhagen on June 27.
Representatives of the G7, the European and NATO countries, at the level of ministers of foreign affairs, secretaries of state, and ambassadors took part in the event, which Groysman hosted along with Danish Prime Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen.
“(We should) create a high-level group with which we could assess the real state of affairs and jointly develop an action plan in which we would clearly identify new instruments for sustainable and successful reform, and the steps to do next,” Groysman said.
He said such a group would be able to identify future reform priorities.
“This group will be able to identify more broad horizons of changes for a five- to seven-year period, and develop support mechanisms that will make these changes quick and effective,” Groysman said. “Our common work has to produce answers to many questions, including regarding a successful Ukraine – which is a real fear for Russia.”
“Our objective is to create … a European quality of life in Ukraine,” Groysman said.
He noted that during last year’s Ukrainian reform conference in London he had identified five five priorities: medical reform, educational reform, privatization reform, reform of the pensions system and land reform.
“We have started four out of five,” the Ukrainian prime minister said.
Groysman also said Ukraine planned to adopt a new law on the privatization of state property.
“I do understand that we need to continue systematic change, and our plan is to make sure that all these reforms will be practically implemented. Reforms have already been adopted, but this year we will see significant progress in terms of privatization, which will take place on the basis of a new law.”
The Ukrainian prime minister next addressed the issue of the Nord Stream 2 undersea gas pipeline bypassing Ukraine, which he said has importance “not only for Ukraine, but for all of our European partners.”
“When we’re talking about the energy sector in Ukraine, we have to know that we’re opening up new possibilities; we’ve adopted a strategy that allows us, as a country that has energy resources, to become independent in the field of energy,” Groysman said.
“But this will be not enough if (Europe’s) dependence on Russia grows. That is Nord Stream2. We now have to show political will, unity, in order to stop a project that will make many countries in Europe dependent (on Russia) for energy. Ukraine is capable providing (the reliable) transit of natural gas to our partners,” he told conference attendees.
Groysman also said Ukrainians wanted their county to be strong, democratic, and a reliable partner with a strong economy.
Ukrainian prime minister Volodymyr Groysman speaks during international conference on reforms in Ukraine, which was held in Copenhagen on June 27.
