Shmyhal, Maas discuss economic forum in Berlin
According to the Government portal, the Ukrainian PM thanked Germany and the EU for their support in pursuing by the Government of Ukraine a policy of reforms and stressed that the Association Agreement remains one of the main tools for implementing systemic change in the country.
"Currently, on behalf of the President, the Government is preparing a concept for updating the Agreement so that it conforms to the level of our relations with the EU. The Government aims to take into account the interests of Ukrainian business, which seeks to benefit more from the use of the Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area with the EU," stressed Shmyhal, adding that Ukraine plans to present the proposals to the EU at the Association Council’s meeting in December this year.
During the meeting, the Prime Minister expressed hope that the process of concluding the Common Aviation Area (ECAA) Agreement between Ukraine and the EU would be completed in the near future. "We understand the difficulties, but we are ready to exert every effort to ensure this document is signed. This would be a concrete tool to promote the recovery of the aviation sector, which has been severely affected by the pandemic, both in Ukraine and in the EU," he said.
Apart from that, the PM emphasized that the Government plans to sign a joint statement with the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy of Germany by the end of the month to launch cooperation in the energy sector.
Denys Shmyhal told Heiko Maas that the Government of Ukraine had already embarked on preparing an Annual National Program for 2021, with a special emphasis laid on the transformation of Ukraine's security and defense sector to align with NATO standards.
The parties also raised the issue of holding the fourth Ukrainian-German Economic Forum in Berlin in 2021. "I believe that the forum will contribute to the deepening of trade and economic cooperation between our countries. The experience of the three previous forums has shown that such events with the participation of senior officials of both countries provide a powerful impetus to building bilateral trust," Shmyhal noted.
The PM thanked Germany for its contribution to the restoration of Ukraine's territorial integrity and sovereignty and for its firm support to prolong sanctions against the Russian Federation.
For his part, Heiko Maas stressed that Germany would continue to support Ukraine in the framework of the Normandy format, as well as to assist in the process of implementation of European reforms in Ukraine.
Apart from that, the Federal Minister noted that Germany is ready to provide comprehensive support to Ukraine during its presidency of the EU Council, which will last until the end of 2020.
As reported, German Federal Minister for Foreign Affairs Heiko Maas was on a working visit to Ukraine on August 24.
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