Zelensky: Ukraine seeks greater integration into EU’s internal market

Ukraine remains committed to the effective implementation of the Association Agreement with the EU and seeks greater integration into the European Union's internal market.

President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky made a corresponding statement at a joint meeting with European Council President Charles Michel in Kyiv, an Ukrinform correspondent informs.

Zelensky informed that he and the President of the European Council had discussed an extremely intensive and rich agenda of relations between Ukraine and the European Union.

"Ukraine remains fully committed to the effective implementation of the Association Agreement but also seeks to use its flexibility for a greater integration into the European Union's internal market," Zelensky said.

As noted, the parties discussed the progress in the implementation of the agreements reached during last year's EU-Ukraine Summit.

"In particular, the revision of the Association Agreement, integration into the European Single Market, the Common Aviation Area Agreement, macro-financial assistance, movement towards signing the Agreement on Conformity Assessment and Acceptance of Industrial Products. I am confident that thanks to our regular dialogue with the leadership of the EU institutions and the fruitful work of our experts, despite all the challenges, we will be able to implement the planned measures till the 23rd summit to be held in Kyiv this year," the President of Ukraine said.

Zelensky thanked Michel for the frank and very fruitful and warm conversation.

"It is extremely important for me that Mr. President and I have a common vision of further tasks and priorities on the path of Ukraine's integration into the European Union. This is a good basis for further work and, I am sure, for very good results," the President of Ukraine said.

As reported, Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal said on February 17 that Ukraine hopes to sign the ACAA with the European Union this year, which will provide ample opportunities for small and medium-sized businesses.

At the end of October last year, a preliminary EU assessment mission was launched on the readiness of Ukraine's quality infrastructure for the conclusion of the ACAA.

Earlier, the Government stated that the ACAA could potentially account for a fifth of Ukraine's exports to the EU, primarily engineering products, facilitating trade and raising the image of Ukrainian products in global markets.

Ukraine and the European Union will hold an industrial dialogue on March 16-17, 2021.

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