Arbuzov assures Fule reforms in Ukraine are irreversible
KYIV, October 18 /Ukrinform/. Ukraine is making every effort to achieve progress on all criteria required for signing the Association Agreement with the European Union.
Ukrainian First Deputy Prime Minister Serhiy Arbuzov said this at a meeting with European Commissioner for Enlargement and European Neighborhood Policy Stefan Fule in Brussels on Thursday, the press office of the first deputy prime minister reported.
"I am confident that the intensification of our bilateral dialogue with the European Union will remove all obstacles to the signing of the agreement. Ukraine is continuing to make every effort to achieve progress on all criteria required for signing the document," Arbuzov said.
Among major priorities he named the improvement of laws on elections, reform of the justice system, the fight against corruption, the improvement of the business climate, and the implementation of the Association Agenda.
"We realize the amount of work that has to be done. This is a set of reforms for many years ahead. But I want to emphasize that the reform process is becoming irreversible," the first deputy prime minister said.
He added that Ukraine expects a positive decision from the EU Council on the signing of the agreement and the determination of the scope of its provisional application.
Arbuzov said that the successful promotion of the visa liberalization dialogue is another important priority for Ukraine in relations with the EU. The amendments to the visa facilitation agreement came into force on July 1, which became another step on the road to achieving the strategic goal of the introduction by the EU of the visa-free regime for Ukrainian citizens.
"The government and the Verkhovna Rada are conducting active work for this purpose," Arbuzov said.
He noted that the European integration course of Ukraine is supported by almost all political forces in the state and the public, whereas the presence of disagreements in resolving certain issues does not create obstacles to joint actions towards association with the EU.
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