OREANDA-NEWS. June 05, 2012.  Ukraine's strategic goal is membership in the European Union. Our country is ready to use all tools including the Eastern Partnership program to achieve this goal. This was announced by First vice Prime Minister of Ukraine Valeriy Khoroshkovsky during an informal meeting of high level within the framework of EU Eastern Partnership program which took place in Chisinau on June 5, 2012.

The EU Commissioner for Enlargement and European Neighbourhood Policy Stefan Fule emphasized the event is the beginning of a new format of relations between the EU and Member States of the Eastern Partnership program. He also noted the progress made by Ukraine towards the EU.

First Vice Prime Minister stressed the importance of such meetings for the development of multilateral cooperation. "Our informal dialogue can be regarded as an analogue of the international think tank at the highest level. We will be able jointly work out the answers to the most pressing challenges," V. Khoroshkovsky declared.

Assessing the Eastern Partnership achievements over 3 years of existence, the First vice Prime Minister noted the program potential isn't settled yet. "Informal dialogue on specific sectoral interaction and discussion of the Roadmap is a promising step towards evolution of the Eastern Partnership," V. Khoroshkovsky noted.

First Vice Prime Minister emphasized Ukraine is an active member of the Eastern Partnership and regards it as an effective tool towards integration into the EU. In particular, the task of the Eastern Partnership Roadmap regarding a free movement of people means for Ukraine the need implementation of all points of the Action Plan on Visa Liberalization between Ukraine and the EU already in 2013.

"The most effective path to the Eastern Partnership program development - is speed up of the Association Agreement signing between Ukraine and the EU. This step will show everyone that Eastern Partnership really works," First vice Prime Minister summed up.