2011 to be a Decisive Year for EU-Ukraine Relations

KYIV, Ukraine, March 17, 2011 - 2011 will be a crucial year for the relations between Ukraine and the EU,
with important goals to accomplish, including the completion of negotiations
on the EU-Ukraine Association Agreement and a free trade zone establishment,
said Miroslav Lajcak, the Managing Director for Russia, Eastern Neighborhood
and the Western Balkans in the EU's External Action Service.

During a meeting of the EU-Ukraine Parliamentary Cooperation Committee in
Brussels on March 15, Lajcak noted that 2011 is expected to be full of
opportunities with regards to EU-Ukraine relations. The EU's official also
voiced Brussels' hope to achieve notable progress in negotiations on an
action plan clearly outlining preconditions regarding a Ukraine-EU visa-free
regime.

In 2011, Ukraine will celebrate the 20th anniversary of the Independence
Declaration, which will also bring international attention to the country's
development and progress.

The political and economic development in Ukraine over the past year
shows that the current government continues to pursue the common EU-Ukraine
goals, namely signing a political association agreement and economic
integration within the EU, Lajcak said.

Lajcak also noted that successful implementation of the
crucial Ukraine anti-corruption, constitutional, electoral and legislative
reforms is an important factor for achieving the political association
agreement with the EU.

The next round of negotiations on the Association Agreement
between Ukraine and the EU, which were launched back in 2007, will take place
on April 5, 2011 in Brussels, Belgium. The agreement is expected to be signed
in 2011.

For more information, please contact Maryna Khorunzha +380-443324784, news at wnu-ukraine.com, Project Manager at Worldwide News Ukraine