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Primarily, macro-financial stability must be ensured in the country, the official said.
Head of the Delegation of the European Union to Ukraine Hugues Mingarelli says the European Union supports Ukraine in its desire to implement a number of structural reforms, in particular, this refers to the energy reform, namely, the launch of the energy market from July 1, 2019.
According to the official, the introduction of the electricity market in Ukraine is very important for the EU, including for the provision of macro-financial assistance to the country. He expressed hope that everything would be done to launch the market soon.
Mingarelli says the European Union believes that the reforms that were started five years ago will continue under the new leadership in Ukraine.
Primarily, macro-financial stability must be ensured in the country, he said. Structural reforms must accelerate, while the rule of law should improve alongside. Mingarelli assured that the EU would support Ukraine in implementing reforms.
Read alsoEnergorynok, Ukrenergo preparing for launch of new electricity market in Ukraine
Answering the question on how the possible cancellation or postponement of the introduction of the electricity market, voiced by the future president's team, will affect the investment attractiveness of Ukraine's energy sector, Mingarelli replied that it was too early to comment on this.
As was earlier reported, a new electricity market was planned to be introduced in Ukraine from July 1. The market is expected to introduce requirements of the EU Third Energy Package. Noteworthy, the obtaining of the EU macro-financial assistance worth EUR 500 million in 2019 depends on the timely introduction of the electricity market.
On April 22, the international community has expressed concern about the slowdown in the launch of the new electricity market in Ukraine and called for a prompt meeting of the relevant coordination center. That is stated in a joint letter by Head of the Delegation of the European Union to Ukraine Hugues Mingarelli, Director of the Energy Community Secretariat Janez Kopac, Head of the European Investment Bank's Resident Representation for Ukraine Jean-Erik de Zagon, EBRD Managing Director for Eastern Europe and the Caucasus Matteo Patrone, and USAID Mission Director to Ukraine, Belarus and Moldova Susan Fritz.
In turn, the state-owned operator of Ukraine's integrated power grids, Ukrenergo, and Ukraine's wholesale electricity market operator, state-run enterprise Energorynok, have started test operations for the sale and purchase of electric power, as part of preparation for the launch of the new electricity market.