Mission of Ukraine to European Communities

Announcement

INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON GTS MODERNIZATION - 23 MARCH 2009, BRUSSELS

JOINT EU-UKRAINE INTERNATIONAL INVESTMENT CONFERENCE

ON THE MODERNISATION OF

UKRAINE'S GAS TRANSIT SYSTEM

(23 March 2009, Brussels)

Joint Declaration

AGENDA

European Commission website

Presentations and photos

The objective of the investment conference is to help Ukraine maintain its capacity to serve as the main transit country for EU consumers and foster the implementation of structural reforms for both domestic gas supplies and international transit.

This conference co-hosted by the European Commission and the Government of Ukraine brought together representatives of the EU, Ukraine and third countries, as well international financial institutions and the private sector.

The modernization of the Gas Transit System (GTS) of Ukraine is a priority in the medium run for the security of EU gas supplies coming from Russia, as well as for the sustainability of Ukraine’s economic development. At the same time, any multi annual modernization programme must be accompanied by a deep reform of the gas sector as well as by assurances from both suppliers and consumers that transit through Ukraine will be maintained over at least the forthcoming decade.

In 2006-2007 a joint EC-Ukraine audit of Ukraine’s natural gas transit infrastructure was conducted in the framework of a Tacis project. The conclusions of this audit, estimating a need of EUR 2.5 billion to modernize the audited infrastructure over the period from 2008-2013, were endorsed by the second Joint Progress Report on the implementation of the Memorandum of Understanding on Energy cooperation between the EU and Ukraine, signed on 14 September 2007.

The proposal for joint investment conference was first raised in the same report and was specifically welcomed at the EU-Ukraine Summit of 9th September 2008.

The Gas Transit System (GTS) of Ukraine ranks second in Europe. It is 38 thousand km long including 22 thousand km of high pressure lines, 73 compressor stations, 1600 gas transmitting stations. Ukraine has 13 underground gas storages, mostly located in the western part of the country, with a total volume of circa 34 bcm allocated along the high pressure pipelines.

The capacity of the Ukrainian GTS at the inlet is 290 bcm and 178 bcm at the outlet, 140 bcm of which are allocated to the European countries.

08/02/2011 - MFA of Ukraine created an English language digest about Ukraine «Ukraine-Digest.com»

04/02/2012 - Ukraine is ready to actively join the process of developing new transparent and fair rules of international energy cooperation, President Viktor Yanukovych told journalists in Munich. The President also reiterated the urgency of establishing a trilateral gas transit consortium. "The issue is topical more than ever. We need to tackle it together with Russia and the EU," he said, President’s Press Service informs.

02/02/2012 – “Naftogaz Ukraina” guarantees its obligations on transit of the natural gas to the European countries and inside the country. The company stresses that transit volumes of the natural gas through the territory of Ukraine and off-take of the imported natural gas are at the levels defined by JSC “Gazprom”. An increase in the consumption of the natural gas in Ukraine due to heavy winter conditions is compensated exclusively by the extraction of the gas from Ukrainian underground gas storages.

02/02/2012 - “ 112” emergency number will be operational in all hosting cities of EURO 2012 football Championship (Kyiv, Donets, Lviv and Kharkiv) by May 2012, said Minister for Emergencies of Ukraine Viktor Baloga.

25/01/2012 - President of Ukraine signed a Decree on “Promotion of Development of Civil Society in Ukraine”. The document provides for establishment of a Coordination Council for Development of the Civil Society as an advisory body to the President of Ukraine, as well for its terms of reference and membership. Civil sector is broadly represented in the membership of the Council.

25/01/2012 - Decree on “Formation and Organization of Activities of the Constitutional Assembly” was signed by the President of Ukraine. As it is stated in the document, the President approved the concept of the Constitutional Assembly, its formation and terms of reference as suggested by the Expert Group on Preparation of the Constitutional Assembly and based on the recommendations of the Venice Commission. A balanced approach for membership in the Assembly is suggested: not less than one half of the members shall be eminent constitutional scholars, experts in jurisprudence and in other political and social sciences.

25/01/2012 - “Reporters without Borders” published its annual report on media freedom indexes. Ukraine rated 116 which is a 15-point rise compared to last year position.

22/01/2011 - President on the occasion of Unity and Liberty Day: Only through modernization Ukraine can become strong and modern state. "This is the only way for Ukraine to fulfill itself as a strong and ambitious state in today's globalized and complex world," he said. "I clearly realize this goal. I know how to achieve it. I will act decisively and consistently. I have enough political will to gradually realize our eternal dream - strong independent Ukraine," said Viktor Yanukovych.

17/01/2012 - Viktor Yanukovych congratulates Martin Schulz on election as European Parliament President.
President Yanukovych expressed his hope that the European Parliament would continue supporting our country's European aspirations and further the implementation of the ambitious agenda of Ukraine-EU relations, whose primary task is to complete the Association Agreement. President Viktor Yanukovych also sent a letter to Jerzy Buzek thanking him for the fruitful cooperation and contribution into the development of cooperation between Ukraine and the EU while in the office of President of the European Parliament. "Ukraine highly appreciates your long and consistent support of the European aspirations of our country and strengthening its role on the international scene. During your presidency in the European Parliament special attention has been given to the European future of Ukraine," Viktor Yanukovych said in the letter