The Ukrainian World Congress (UWC) welcomes the joint statement of the EU-Ukraine Association Council reinforcing “continuous commitment to political association and economic integration between the European Union and Ukraine based on common values of democracy, rule of law and human rights”.
The UWC also commends the EU’s commitment to support Ukraine’s substantial reform efforts, including through financial assistance linked to concrete reform progress.
The UWC is pleased with the highlighting of the progress of reforms ranging from health care to education, from judicial to security sector and from energy to infrastructure. The UWC also welcomes the discussion regarding steps towards Ukraine’s further integration with the EU Energy Union and Digital Single Market, as well as for a Customs Union between the EU and Ukraine.
Particularly notable is also the EU’s resolve to support Ukraine’s independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity, within its internationally recognized borders, and to maintain economic sanctions against the Russian Federation until it fully complies with the Minsk agreements.
The UWC welcomes the EU’s readiness to play an important role in early recovery and reconstruction efforts in the Donbas, particularly the signing of a financing agreement for the EU support program to the East of Ukraine, a EUR 50 million contribution to strengthen the local governance, economic recovery, community security and social cohesion in the government controlled areas of the Donetsk and Luhansk regions.
The UWC also highly regards the proposal of the Ukrainian government to establish an international Group of Friends of Ukrainian Crimea aimed at facilitating de-occupation efforts.
Particularly important is the Association Council’s call on all states to assist the investigation and prosecution of those responsible for the downing of MH17 to ensure that they are brought to justice, as stipulated by UN Security Council Resolution 2166.
“The Ukrainian World Congress welcomes the joint statement by Federica Mogherini, High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Volodymyr Groysman, Prime Minister of Ukraine, following the 4th session of the EU-Ukraine Association Council and stands ready to further support the European aspirations of Ukraine”, said UWC President Eugene Czolij.
