Brussels, 26/09/2011 (Agence Europe) - The EU is prepared to conclude an agreement on a free-trade zone with Ukraine “before the end of the year”, said Karel De Gucht, after the informal meeting of the European trade ministers in Brussels on Monday 26 September. The agreement could be concluded at the annual bilateral summit in December. “Progress has been excellent (…). We were able to resolve a large number of issues last week, particularly as regards energy, automotive vehicles and export duty”, explained the trade commissioner, who met the Ukrainian minister for economic development, Andriy Klyuyev, in Brussels on 21 September, on the sidelines of the 18th session of bilateral talks. The parties gave a positive assessment of the latest round of consultations, which focused in particular on market access for agricultural products. (LC/EH/transl.fl)