Ukraine's Future in The EU – EU Commissioner

What You Need To Know:

✓ Lifting Russia sanctions is only linked to the full fulfillment of the Minsk peace deal;
✓ International community must support the Ukrainian government in dealing with war-displaced people;
✓ Ukraine must be prepared to be opened up for the EU market, also to the global market. Not there yet;
✓ The Ukrainian government has had a remarkable track record with reforms since last year.

Johannes Hahn, Commissioner for European Neighbourhood Policy & Enlargement Negotiations says that the Minsk agreement consists of several elements, the withdrawl of heavy weapons, the implementation of Ukrainian elections and others, all of which must be done before any talk of lifting sanctions.

Fighting corruption is on the list of things which are required from Ukraine before visa free travel is implemented.

The DCFTA will begin next year says Mr. Hahn, but the other thing that is important to him, is to prepare Ukraine for these new challenges. For example, Ukraine must be prepared to be opened up not to the EU market, but also to the global market. 55 million euros will be alloted to Ukraine to assist Ukrainian companies in preparing for this.

There is a significant need for money to deal with the Ukrainian IDP's right now, and it is forthcoming because according to Mr. Hahn, the Ukrainian government has had a remarkable track record with reforms since last year, so the international community is confident in this government.

Hromadske International's Nataliya Gumenyuk spoke with Johannes Hahn at the YES conference in Kyiv on September 12th, 2015.

Ukraine's Future in The EU – EU Commissioner by Hromadske International on Mixcloud