Today’s Ukraine-EU Summit is a unique format of support for our state – President
According to the Head of State, the participants of this meeting have a pretty intensive agenda, "specific practical issues, which are now going to be implemented, are planned to be discussed".
President Petro Poroshenko stresses that today’s Ukraine-EU Summit is extremely important and unique. Ukraine and its European integration aspirations are supported in the EU, the Head of State emphasized. “Ukraine has never conducted a meeting with the President of the European Council, the President of the European Commission, the President of the European Parliament, the Vice-President and members of the European Commission simultaneously,” the Head of State said during a conversation with journalists in Brussels.
“The Summit is unique in time, because it takes place ten days before the elections. And this is an absolutely clear format of support – not just support for Poroshenko, but support for Ukraine and support for our European aspirations,” the President said.
“Ukraine needs this support, as it is now crucial for Ukraine’s future: either Ukraine will continue to develop in its Ukrainian way, continue to integrate into the EU and NATO, set tasks for compliance with the criteria of future membership, or the backsliding can take place. And today we have to do everything to prevent this,” Petro Poroshenko said.
According to the Head of State, the participants of this meeting have a pretty intensive agenda, “specific practical issues, which are now going to be implemented, are planned to be discussed”.
The President thanked the European Commission for yesterday’s addendum 27 to the Association Agreement, which allows the synchronization of energy markets. “This is our direct response to the Russian Federation, why the European Commission, the European Union should take an active part in the negotiations on energy issues, including the Nord Stream 2,” Petro Poroshenko emphasized.
In addition, the Head of State emphasized that this decision was already a sectoral integration into the energy sector, which starts with various projects: from the prevention of the Nord Stream 2 to the construction of the energy bridge, which was discussed during the meeting in Khmelnytskyi region with the participation of the President.
Petro Poroshenko also said that the European Commission had supported his proposal on the digital market. “For ordinary Ukrainians, this has very simple positions – the abolition of roaming charges when traveling. This is a so-called digital visa-free regime. And I think that this position is also extremely relevant,” he said.
The Head of State is hopeful that today an agreement will be reached on the date of the next Ukraine-EU Summit. “We hope that it will take place in the beginning of summer. After the conclusion of negotiations you will be able to hear the date of the Summit,” he said.
As for the current agenda, Petro Poroshenko also drew attention to the fact that the present composition of the Ukrainian delegation was very representative. “Starting from the First Vice Prime Minister of Ukraine, the Minister of Regional Development, the Minister of Finance, the Minister for Foreign Affairs and other members of the Government. Progress on macro-financial assistance will be discussed. We are very grateful for the participation of the Commissioner for SMEs, as cooperation in improving the investment climate, institutional support and specific financial support will be our contribution to the decisive actions aimed to combat poverty,” the President summarized.
