On December 15, in the framework of a working visit to Brussels Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Pavlo Klimkin met with Vice-President of the European Commission on Energy Union Maroš Šefčovič.

The parties discussed priority cooperation lines between Ukraine and the EU in the energy sphere.

They reaffirmed the strategic importance of cooperation between Ukraine and the European Union in the context of energy security of Europe.

The Ukrainian side has informed about the reforming of the gas market in accordance with the EU energy legislation and stressed that it remains a reliable partner for the European Union in the issues of natural gas transit to the EU member states.

The Minister and the Vice President also paid peculiar attention to drawing investments from the European Union into Ukraine’s gas transport system called to step up energy security of both Ukraine and the EU. Minister P. Klimkin emphasized the need to prolong cooperation with the EU in joint modernization and exploitation of Ukraine’s natural gas pipeline network and also to attract European companies to use underground gas storages of Ukraine.

In this context, the interlocutors welcomed signing before the meeting of the Loan agreement between Ukraine and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (Ukraine: modernization of the Urengoy - Pomary - Uzhgorod main gas pipeline).

Maroš Šefčovič noted the importance of a partnership between Ukraine and the EU in the energy sector and promised to further support maintaining of reverse supplies of natural gas to Ukraine from the territory of the EU member states.

Pavlo Klimkin thanked the European Commission for their active support in achieving understandings with the Russian Federation concerning deliveries of Russian gas to our country, which will afford to satisfy the needs for the winter.

The parties confirmed their willingness to continue an active cooperation in order to ensure appropriate energy security basing on a solidarity principle.