Prime Minister of Ukraine Yulia Tymoshenko during her working visit to Brussels met with EU Trade Commissioner Peter Mandelson, according to the government’s press-office.

      Summing up negotiations Mr. Mandelson told that he accepted an invitation of Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko to visit Ukraine in the first half of February this year with the purpose of opening official negotiations on creation of the free trade area.

Видео дня

      Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko stressed that after a prospective decision of the WTO General Council on admitting Ukraine to this organization on 5 February, the visit of Mr. Mandelson to Ukraine would be the second significant event, as official negotiations would be launched during it.

      The Head of Ukrainian Government noted that creation of the free trade area with the EU remains a priority for her Government. Yulia Tymoshenko especially emphasized that accession to the WTO and creation of the free trade area would contribute both to the development of a civilized market in Ukraine and Ukraine’s integration to the international trade area.

      In his turn, the EU Commissioner congratulated Ukraine on completing basic negotiations on the WTO accession, noting that the EU had significantly supported Ukraine in this issue.

      At the same time, Mr. Mandelson expressed confidence that Ukraine and the European Union, according to the results of negotiations, would create the overall and deep free trade area which can encourage Ukraine’s integration to the European Union.