OREANDA-NEWS. October 29, 2015. A broad delegation of the European Union discussed with Minister of Economic Development and Trade of Ukraine Aivaras Abromavicius the progress in the fight against corruption, creating a favourable environment for business and preparation for the full implementation of a deep and comprehensive free trade area with the EU from 1 January 2016.

The EU delegation was led by Christian Danelsson, Director General of the Directorate-General of the European Commission for Neighbourhood and Enlargement Negotiations, as well as Head of the EU delegation to Ukraine Jan Tombinski.

Aivaras Abromavicius reiterated that all the initiatives of the Ministry of Economic Development and Trade are aimed at reviving the confidence of international businessmen and investors. For this purpose, in particular, we introduce an improved and transparent system for donor coordination, reduce the administrative burden on employers, apply international standards of corporate governance in state-owned enterprises and the like.

“It is also important to keep in mind reforming the civil service. If we step up requirements to the competence of employees, the wages should raise consequently. Without a significant inflow of professionals into the civil service it will be harder to implement the reforms”, said Minister Aivaras Abromavicius.

“We have a common goal — to see that the reforms in Ukraine are advancing rapidly,” said Christian Dan?elsson.

The representatives of the European Union met with Executive Committee of National Reform Council comprising Minister Aivaras Abromavicius, Deputy Head of the Presidential Administration of Ukraine Dmytro Shymkiv and President of the VR Committee for Foreign Affairs Anna Hopko. Apart from that, the meeting was attended by Deputy Minister, Trade Representative of Ukraine Natalia Mykolska and Director of the International Program Coordination Department of the Ministry of Economic Development and Trade of Ukraine Olena Tregub.