Commissioner Füle attended conference of Ukrainian National Platform

During his visit to Ukraine on 7-8 February Commissioner Füle attended a meeting with the CSF Ukrainian National Platform and thereby continued his tradition of close communication with the civil society.

During his speech at the conference with the CSF National Platform and professors as well as students of Kyiv Mohyla Academy, one of the oldest universities in Ukraine, Commissioner Füle underlined the need for the Ukrainian society at large to feel part of the European Integration project. He expressed his satisfaction with the steady development of the Ukrainian National Platform of the EaP CSF and its great contribution to the EU’s new neighbourhood policy. Furthermore, the Commissioner expressed his hope that the Platform “will continue to grow and become an even stronger voice with real influence on the policies of Ukraine”.

Commissioner Füle saw the relations between the EU and Ukraine at a defining moment as both partners have the “truly historic opportunity” of laying the foundations of an enhanced partnership by signing the Association Agreement including a Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area. He emphasized that the Ukrainian citizens will be at the centre of this project as the agreement is above all about sharing common values.

The Commissioner outlined the prospects for moving forward in the EU-Ukrainian relations towards an integration into the European family based on determined action and tangible progress in the three key areas outlined by the Foreign Affairs Council in December. These areas are the addressing of the shortcomings in the October Parliamentary Elections, the addressing of the issue of selective justice and preventing its recurrence and the progressing on reforms as set out in the Association Agenda. Commissioner Füle outlined the need for swift progress in order to achieve results prior or at latest at the Vilnius Summit in November 2013.

For the full speech of Commissioner Füle see here.

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