19th meeting of Ukraine-EU Parliamentary Cooperation Committee was held on 13-14 June 2012 in Strasbourg co-chaired by Pawel Kowal (EP) and Borys Tarasyuk (Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine).

The main issue discussed has been preparations for the October 28, 2012 parliamentary elections in Ukraine. It was stressed that this election will be of a crucial importance for Ukraine’s democratic development and further progress in Ukraine-EU relations.

The Committee discussed prospects for conclusion of the Ukraine-EU Association Agreement, which, in opinion of the MEPs and the members of the VRU, will become, after signature and ratification, an important instrument of modernization of Ukraine in all fields of its internal development.

The Committee also welcomed preparations made by Ukraine and Poland for carrying out the European Football Championships Euro 2012 as an important event fostering people-to-people contacts. The members of the Parliaments condemned any types of xenophobia and racism, stressing however that Ukraine and Poland are lacking of these phenomena as a systemic basis. In this regards the Committee called on the international media to publish comprehensive and correct information regarding such important subjects and not to speculate on them.

Members of the VRU and the EP exchanged views on visa free dialogue and expressed a conviction that a visa free regime for Ukrainian citizens travelling to the EU countries should not depend on the political climate of the EU-Ukraine relations. Ukrainians, like citizens of EU countries travelling to Ukraine, should have the right of non-visa free travelling within the European Union.

The Committee also had an exchange of views with representative of the MFA of Ukraine V.Chentsov and EU Commissioner for Enlargement S.Fuele.

The previous meeting of the Committee was held in Ukraine on 20-22 February 2012.

The next one will be help upon formation of a new delegation of Ukraine after the parliamentary elections in Ukraine.

The meeting the Parliamentary Cooperation Committee is a form of a regular dialogue in the framework of Ukraine-EU Partnership and Cooperation agreement.