Poland and Slovakia Support Ukraine's European Integration

KYIV, Ukraine, February 21, 2013 /PRNewswire/ --



Ukraine's preparation for the February EU-Ukraine summit, signing of the Association Agreement (AA) with the EU, and European integration were discussed today by the presidents of Ukraine, Poland and Slovakia. The official trilateral meeting between Viktor Yanukovych, Bronislaw Komorowski, and Ivan Gasparovic took place in Polish Wisla. Polish and Slovak presidents pledged their support for Ukraine's European vector, report Ukrainian media.

The three presidents have touched upon Ukraine's fulfillment of all necessary requirements prior to signing the AA at the Eastern Partnership summit in Vilnius (November, 2013). As reported earlier, the main requirements of the EU include: securing free and fair elections, further implementation of ongoing reforms, and curbing selective justice practices. In the meantime, President Yanukovych expressed his acute understanding of the importance to promptly find solutions and reach compromise on the issue of Yulia Tymoshenko and Yuriy Lutsenko, who have been sentenced to seven and four years in prison respectively. This issue should be resolved in the legal environment, he said.

In addition, the Ukrainian leader reiterated Kyiv's intention to establish cooperation with the countries of the Customs Union (CU) on issues which did not contradict the terms and conditions of the AA. Ukraine has to consider the USD 60 billion trade volume with the CU, he noted.

Strengthening cooperation in regional formats in Central and Eastern Europe, Ukraine's participation in joint activities of the Visegrad Four countries, as well as the cross-border cooperation have also been discussed during the trialogue. Aditionally, the presidents talked about deepening of economic and trade cooperation, collaboration in the energy and transport sectors, and strengthening of cultural ties.

Earlier, the press service of the Polish President reported that Komorowski and Gasparovic would advise Yanukovych to implement measures which would confirm the will of Ukraine's rapprochement with the Western world and would increase the chances of signing the EU-Ukraine AA in 2013.

Notably, the diplomatic source in Brussels recently reported to Interfax Ukraine, that the EU expects Kyiv to demonstrate substantial progress in fulfilling its obligations before May 2013. This deadline has been established so that the 27-nation bloc could start internal preparation procedures, which would secure the signing of the AA in November 2013.