Announcement

On the EU Troika meeting with Ukraine concerning the OSCE issues on expert level

June 17 , 2002, Brussels

On June 17 2002 in Brussels there was held EU Troika meeting with Ukraine on the OSCE issues on experts level. The following issues were under discussion:

1. Situation in Ukraine after the elections to the Parliament of Ukraine.

2. Coordinator of the OSCE projects in Ukraine.

3. Cooperation between Ukraine and the EU in the framework of OSCE

4. Financial aspects of the OSCE activities.

5. Moldova/Transdnistria

6. Belorussia

The participants agreed that recent elections to the Parliament of Ukraine (Verkhovna Rada) demonstrated a strengthening of democratic processes in the country. The character of election campaign will promote further development of the strategic course of Ukraine towards integration to the EU.

As it was underlined Ukraine remains an important partner of the EU and there was achieved a lot of positive developments in bilateral relations.

Understanding was exposed to the efforts of Ukraine to gradually diminish the amount of its contribution to the OSCE budget. Ukraine is for the continuation of the dialogue on reforming the scale of contributions, which could be formed according to the UN criteria.

The efforts of mediators (Ukraine, Russia, OSCE) on Transdnistria problem settlement was highly estimated. Unsettlement of this problem will have a negative impact to the stability in the region.

As it was mentioned by Ukrainian experts the sides should exercise flexibility in the process of Belorussia and OSCE tensions settlement. As a neighboring country Ukraine in not interested in deterioration of cooperation between OSCE and Belorussia.

02/02/2012 – “Naftogaz Ukraina” guarantees its obligations on transit of the natural gas to the European countries and inside the country. The company stresses that transit volumes of the natural gas through the territory of Ukraine and off-take of the imported natural gas are at the levels defined by JSC “Gazprom”. An increase in the consumption of the natural gas in Ukraine due to heavy winter conditions is compensated exclusively by the extraction of the gas from Ukrainian underground gas storages.

02/02/2012 - “ 112” emergency number will be operational in all hosting cities of EURO 2012 football Championship (Kyiv, Donets, Lviv and Kharkiv) by May 2012, said Minister for Emergencies of Ukraine Viktor Baloga.

25/01/2012 - President of Ukraine signed a Decree on “Promotion of Development of Civil Society in Ukraine”. The document provides for establishment of a Coordination Council for Development of the Civil Society as an advisory body to the President of Ukraine, as well for its terms of reference and membership. Civil sector is broadly represented in the membership of the Council.

25/01/2012 - Decree on “Formation and Organization of Activities of the Constitutional Assembly” was signed by the President of Ukraine. As it is stated in the document, the President approved the concept of the Constitutional Assembly, its formation and terms of reference as suggested by the Expert Group on Preparation of the Constitutional Assembly and based on the recommendations of the Venice Commission. A balanced approach for membership in the Assembly is suggested: not less than one half of the members shall be eminent constitutional scholars, experts in jurisprudence and in other political and social sciences.

25/01/2012 - “Reporters without Borders” published its annual report on media freedom indexes. Ukraine rated 116 which is a 15-point rise compared to last year position.

22/01/2011 - President on the occasion of Unity and Liberty Day: Only through modernization Ukraine can become strong and modern state. "This is the only way for Ukraine to fulfill itself as a strong and ambitious state in today's globalized and complex world," he said. "I clearly realize this goal. I know how to achieve it. I will act decisively and consistently. I have enough political will to gradually realize our eternal dream - strong independent Ukraine," said Viktor Yanukovych.

17/01/2012 - Viktor Yanukovych congratulates Martin Schulz on election as European Parliament President.
President Yanukovych expressed his hope that the European Parliament would continue supporting our country's European aspirations and further the implementation of the ambitious agenda of Ukraine-EU relations, whose primary task is to complete the Association Agreement. President Viktor Yanukovych also sent a letter to Jerzy Buzek thanking him for the fruitful cooperation and contribution into the development of cooperation between Ukraine and the EU while in the office of President of the European Parliament. "Ukraine highly appreciates your long and consistent support of the European aspirations of our country and strengthening its role on the international scene. During your presidency in the European Parliament special attention has been given to the European future of Ukraine," Viktor Yanukovych said in the letter

13/01/2011 – President of Ukraine V.Yanukovych: In 2012, Ukraine will continue reforms launched in 2010 and 2011. The President reminded that in early 2010, the economic situation in the country had been very difficult. "We had to fulfill the obligations we took upon ourselves – to prevent debts in social benefits, wages, pensions. To pay at least one hundred percent, or even increase salaries and pensions," he said.

10/01/2012 - Ukraine introduces an EU model in monitoring the safety and quality of food. "Following the example of EU the State Veterinary and Sanitary Service of Ukraine will fully be able to control the quality and safety of food: from entering the organic and mineral fertilizers in the soil, feed the animals, monitoring of pesticide residues and veterinary drugs in animal products and the processing of crop and livestock raw materials, adequate supply to the consumer, controlling the logistics chain and implementation throughout the country", - the Head of the State Veterinary and Sanitary Service of Ivan Bisyuk said.