Ukraine demands progress on visa issue at summit

Ukraine says it will seek to "speed up" dialogue with the EU on various issues at a summit between the two sides next month.

Spefically, Kiev says it will demand progress on the issue of visa liberalisation at the meeting on 4 December.

Despite problems on this, a spokesman for the country's EU mission said, "The summit will nevertheless prove Ukraine and the EU are steadily moving forward towards each other."

"At the same time, we expect to speed up Ukraine-EU dialogue in spring next year, after both Ukraine and the EU have completed their institutional changes. 

With the threat of disrution of gas supplies to European countries once again a possibility, energy security will be another item for discussion at the summit in Kiev.

During last year the negotiations between Ukraine and the EU on the association agreement have "considerably advanced." 

The source said, "Sectoral cooperation chapter is almost finished. The sides are now focused on negotiating the free trade area which is to become a unique and ambitious FTA in terms of scope and depth of the liberalization of trade in goods and services, as well as adaptation of the EU acquis.

"The top priority for Ukraine remains further visa liberalisation for Ukrainian citizens to travel to the EU.

"We hope the summit will make its contribution to further extension of the categories of Ukrainian citizens eligible to get facilitated visas.

"We also hope the leaders will give an impetus to elaborate methodology and set up clear-cut criteria needed to be achieved by Ukraine in order to get a visa free regime in the future."
 
He added, "Global challenges like climate change, energy security, prevention and repression of acts of piracy will also be discussed at the summit.

"Ukraine is getting ready to commit itself to further reduction of carbon emission and to cooperate with the EU on the environmental issues by establishing in the future the regional environmental centre in Ukraine."

When it comes to energy security, he said Ukraine aspires to join the energy community treaty this year and "counts on the EU support in this regard."

He went on, "Being one of the countries whose nationals continue to be often victims of pirate hijack attacks off the Somali coast, Ukraine has voiced its readiness to make a contribution to EU NAFVOR Somalia.

He said Ukraine planned to send 30 special mission unit agents to participate in the EU-led operation.

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