President Victor Yushchenko met today with European Commission Vice-President Günter Verheugen.
At the meeting sides discussed Ukraine’s energy policy.
President Yushchenko assured Vice-President Verheugen that Ukraine observes its obligations on transit of Russian gas to Europe and stressed that our country is capable of being reliable transit partner further on.
President Yushchenko also said that Ukraine expects the conference on modernization of Ukrainian gas transport system, scheduled on March 23, to be resulting. “This is a question of reliability of gas supplies to Europe”, - said Victor Yushchenko.
Beside that the two officials discussed integration of Ukraine into European electricity market. Here Victor Yushchenko said that “joining energy systems is a sensitive question for us”.
In addition sides have discussed European integration of Ukraine, particularly preparation of the Association Agreement between Ukraine and the EU, free trade agreement and the Eastern Partnership project.
Günter Verheugen expressed support of Ukraine’s European integration policy. “Ukraine is a country of priority for me; in all questions I am working on in the EU I see Ukraine as top priority partner. This is our closest neighbor that shares common values, history, culture and interests with us. I agree with the opinion that Ukraine must become both political and economic part of the European Union”, - he said.
