July 13-14, the meeting of the EU - Ukraine Association Committee took place in Brussels.

Ukrainian delegation was headed by Deputy Minister of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine, Director of the Government Office for European Integration Natalia Hnydyuk, the delegation of the European Union - by the EEAS Managing Director for Europe and Central Asia Luis-Felipe Fernandez de la Peña.

The Association Committee discussed a wide range of political, trade-economic and sectoral cooperation issues.  The parties made assessment of the Association Agreement, which provides a roadmap for the implementation of reforms in Ukraine and priorities of the effective cooperation between Ukraine and the EU in order to accelerate progress in that direction.

There was a detailed exchange of views on the situation in the eastern Ukraine with a separate focus on its humanitarian aspect and systematic human rights violations as a result of Russian aggression. The EU side reaffirmed its commitment and readiness to promote peaceful resolution of the current situation on the basis of guaranteeing respect for the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Ukraine, in the context of implementation of Minsk II, and by implementing the policy of non-recognition of illegal annexation by Russia of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea.

Special attention was paid to the reforms undertaken by the Ukrainian side in the areas of human rights and the rule of law. The assessment was provided to the anti-corruption reforms, to strengthening of the judiciary, civil security sector reform, the constitutional reform, in particular in terms of decentralization. The detailed explanations were provided on algorithm of the implementation of these reforms.

In the context of discussion of the cooperation in the field of justice, freedom and security aspects the sides focused on measures on implementation of the Visa liberalization Action Plan, with the aim of establishing a visa free regime with the EU for Ukrainian citizens.

Special attention was paid to the carrying out the structural economic reforms in Ukraine aimed at improving the investment and business climate, stabilizing the economic and social situation in Ukraine, as well as the welfare of the citizens. The parties confirmed their commitment to begin the provisional application of a deep and comprehensive free trade area on 1 January 2016, which should bring to a new level to the trade and economic relations between Ukraine and the EU.

Meeting of the Association Committee gave the opportunity to discuss the possible cooperation between Ukraine and the EU in more than two dozen areas, ranging from cooperation in the sphere of environmental protection and education to the dialogue in the energy and transport sectors. At the same time the participation in the meeting of Deputy Ministers for European Integration of practically all Ukrainian ministries allow them to establish the direct contacts with their counterparts from the EU institutions.