The Cooperation Council between Ukraine and the EU held its Fifteenth meeting on 15 May 2012 in Brussels. The meeting was chaired by the Prime Minister of Ukraine Mykola Azarov. Villy Søvndal, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Denmark, current rotating Presidency of the EU Council, headed EU Delegation. The EU has also been represented by the Commissioner for Enlargement and the ENP Štefan Füle.

The Council noted with satisfaction initialing of Ukraine – EU Association Agreement on 30 March 2012. In this regard Ukrainian Side called upon accelerating internal procedures necessary to prepare the Agreement for signature.

The Council has substantially discussed key areas of bilateral cooperation, in particular, visa and migration dialogue, including implementation of Visa liberalization Action Plan, energy and transport cooperation, interaction on the issues of international security as well as cooperation within the Eastern Partnership in the context of decisions taken at September 2011 Warsaw Summit.

In the course of the meeting Ukrainian side informed the European partners in detail on development of internal political situation in Ukraine and implementation of key reforms. The Council touched upon the issue of business and investment climate in Ukraine. In this regard the Prime Minister of Ukraine informed the Council on the measures undertaken by the Government in order to stabilize financial and economic situation of Ukraine. The Council also discussed prospects of further cooperation of Ukraine with the IMF as well as resumption of EU technical assistance, in particular, budget support and Macro-financial assistance to Ukraine.

In the context of discussion devoted to preparation of parliamentary elections on 28 October, Prime Minister Azarov stressed that Ukraine remains determined to hold free and fair elections in accordance with OSCE standards and has already invited international observes to oversee the electoral process. Ukrainian Side rendered explanations in the context of situation around Yulia Tymoshenko and criminal cases against other former members of Government.

Active exchange of views on the pressing issues of regional and international agenda also took place.

The Council adopted amendments to Ukraine – EU Association Agenda and Joint report on its implementation as well as took note of recommendations of the Fifteenth and Sixteenth Ukraine – EU Parliamentary Cooperation Committees.