OREANDA-NEWS. September 18, 2013. Prime Minister of Ukraine Mykola Azarov has held a meeting during which issues about preparation for the signing of the Agreement on Association between Ukraine and the EU were studied.

In particular, the expediency to take additional steps to inform the nation's leading companies, industry associations of producers about the benefits and opportunities of a deep and comprehensive free trade area between Ukraine and the EU in the framework of the Association Agreement was stated at the meeting.

The FTA opens opportunities for increasing exports to the EU and they must be properly used. However Agreement defines protective measures and transitional periods provided to minimize potential adverse effects on domestic producers, and these tools should be used to enhance the competitiveness of domestic goods and services.

The responsibility for this work will be placed on the Ministry of Economic Development and Trade in cooperation with Ministry of Industrial Policy, Ministry of Agrarian Policy and Food, Ministry of Infrastructure and Ministry of Infrastructure.

Mentioned ministries have been also tasked to study the possibility of consultations with the EU and Russia, including in a trilateral format for the effective application of the provisions of the FTA with the CIS and Association Agreement with the EU in the FTA.

Recall that the Cabinet at its meeting to consider the draft Association Agreement with the EU on Wednesday, September 18.