EU backs Ukraine's European choice

Sweden's Prime Minister Reinfeldt, whose country holds the current EU presidency, attends a press conference after the EU-Ukraine summit in Kiev, capital of Ukraine, Dec. 4, 2009. (Xinhua/Mykola Lazarenko)
Swedish Prime Minister Fredrik Reinfeldt reiterated in Kieve Friday that the European Union (EU) supports Ukraine's bid to integrate into the European family, pledging to provide assistance to Ukraine in its economic reforms.


Sweden's Prime Minister Reinfeldt (R), whose country holds the current EU presidency, and EU Commission President Barroso attend the EU-Ukraine summit in Kiev, capital of Ukraine, Dec. 4, 2009. (Xinhua/Mykola Lazarenko)
"We support Ukraine's aspirations in achieving closer relations with the EU," said Reinfeldt, whose country currently holds the rotating EU presidency.

"No matter who will be Ukraine's next president, the Head of State, Government and Parliament of Ukraine should work together to push economic reforms, particularly in the energy sector," he told a press conference after the 13th Ukraine-EU summit held in Kiev on Friday.

Reinfeldt also called on Ukraine to make its own contributions to reach a good agreement at the upcoming Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen.

European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso, in his turn, said that Europe will continue to support the European course of Ukraine.

"We believe that Ukraine's European choice is strategic, and we are ready to support it," he said.

Barroso stressed that the European Commission has always supported Ukraine in its European choice, for example, to help Ukraine in contacts with international financial organizations. He expressed confidence that the association agreement between Ukraine and the EU would be signed in 2010.

Ukraine's President Viktor Yushchenko pledged to hold a free and fair presidential election next month. He also ensured the smooth transit shipments of Russian gas to the European Union during this winter.

Source:Xinhua