Plenković: EP supporting Ukrainian Rada in managing EU affairs

Chairman of the EU-Ukraine Parliamentary Association Committee Andrej Plenković visited Kyiv on July 2nd and 3rd together with President of the European Parliamnet Martin Schulz and members of Bureau of the Committee Kaja Kallas and Tibor Szanyi.

Meetings were held with the President of the Verkhovna Rada Volodimir Groysman, Foreign Minister Pavlo Klimkin and Deputy Minister of Economic Development and Trade Maxim Nefyodov as well as with representatives of international organizations. The Bureau of the Parliamentary Association Committee co-chaired by Ostap Semerak and Andrej Plenković adopted a joint statement.

The main purpose of the visit was the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding between the European Parliament and the Verkhovna. Presidents of Parliaments Schultz and Groysman signed the memorandum which will strengthen the institutional capacity and efficiency of Rada in harmonisation of EU legislation.

Plenković, who is responsible for coordination of EP support activities for the Verkhovna Rada said: "We are ready to share our experiences with the colleagues in Verkhovna Rada in their management of European affairs, particularly on compatibility assessment of new legislation with the EU acquis, which is one of the main objectives in the implementation of the Association Agreement. The upcoming Needs Assessment Mission conducted by former President of European Parliament Cox will serve as a basis for the overall improvement of the parliamentary work of the Rada to which EP will contribute to". 

The Bureau discussed a number of issues regarding the European Union and Ukraine relations, particularly the benefits that the Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Agreement will bring to Ukraine, which will come into force on 1 January 2016. The Bureau also encouraged Ukraine to fulfil the Action Plan on visa liberalization without delay so that the European Commission could recommend the granting of a visa-free regime as of 2016.