OREANDA-NEWS. March 12, 2008. Prime Minister of Ukraine Yulia Tymoshenko assured the European Union representatives of quick ratification by the Ukrainian Parliament of all documents necessary for Ukraine’s accession to the World Trade Organization. The Head of Government stated at the 12th session of the Cooperation Council between Ukraine and the European Union.

At that Yulia Tymoshenko predicts that the Ukrainian Parliament will vote for ratification of necessary documents by the constitutional majority. She noted that the beginning of official negotiations on the creation of a free trade area with the EU is very significant for Ukraine which had been launched on 18 February this year.

Besides, the Prime Minister announced about readiness to start preparation of a new joint framework document on the development of bilateral relations between Ukraine and the EU for 2009 before ending negotiations on the new enhanced Agreement.

“Fulfillment of the EU integration strategy remains an unconditional priority of the policy of Ukraine supported by above 70 percent of the citizens,” she stressed.

Yulia Tymoshenko noted that Ukraine has success in implementation of the Ukraine-EU Action Plan. “Ukraine has achieved a significant progress in implementation of the Ukraine-EU Action Plan, particularly, concerning guarantee of democracy and human rights,” she emphasized. At the same time the Head of Government hopes that Ukraine will have more important results on the Action Plan implementation before the 12th Ukraine-EU Summit, slated for September this year in France.  

During the meeting Yulia Tymoshenko marked implementation of agreements on simplified visa procedure and readmission between Ukraine and the EU as a positive achievement. “This is the first step towards essential deepening of cooperation in visa-migration issues,” the PM noted. At that, according to her, a final aim of such cooperation should be an introduction of non-visa regime between Ukraine and the EU.

The Premier assured the EU representatives that the President, Government and Parliament “is a single team which will advance Ukraine towards European integration”.

During the session Yulia Tymoshenko noted that the Government is carrying out democratic reforms in accordance with its Action Program. The Prime Minister expressed hope that this Program would be adopted by the Parliament in the nearest future.