President Viktor Yushchenko met yesterday with the EU Troika consisting of the European Commission Commissioner for External Relations Benita Ferrero-Waldner, State Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Slovenia Andrej Šter and Minister of State, attached to the Minister of Foreign and European Affairs of France, responsible for European Affairs Jean-Pierre Jouyet. President's press office reports.
Participants of the meeting discussed Ukraine-EU relations particularly within the scope of the Black Sea synergy as well as question of an association agreement and migration policy.
The President stressed that Ukraine’s position on association agreement with the EU remains invariable. “Within the framework of a new agreement with the EU Ukraine would like to see European perspectives,” he said. Viktor Yushchenko also informed that after the signing of Ukraine’s WTO membership protocols Ukraine has an intention to begin talks on free trade zone with the European Union as early as in February. According to the President he intends to announce negotiation process beginning during his meeting with EU Commissioner for Trade Peter Mandelson on February 18.
President Yushchenko also welcomed the agreement about working out a new document to replace Ukraine-EU Target Plan in 2009.
