Brussels, 16/12/2014 (Agence Europe) - On 15-16 December, Ukraine's Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk called for fresh financial support for his country. “When do we need financial support? Yesterday”, he said, at the end of the first EU-Ukraine Association Council on Monday 15 December. During a conference organised by the EPC on 16 December, Yatsenyuk stated that Ukraine has “desperate need of a financial support package”. Reiterating that his country would do everything necessary, he said that to overcome the crisis, Ukraine needed “a new financial support package”, to help “stabilise the economic sector, and help the budget and finance sector”.
“We expect, under our reform agenda and due to the fact that we will set up and adopt reforms, to have this financial support”, Yatsenyuk stated, saying that it was a “joint task with the whole world to make Ukraine a success story”. In his view, 2015 will be the year of stability and growth pact, and 2016 will be the year of growth and real recovery.
Yatsenyuk said that the donors/investors conference has a very important role. This aim of this conference is for the IMF, EU, US and G7 members to facilitate this type of funding in order to adopt a plan for Ukraine's growth and recovery, he added. Commissioner for European Neighbourhood Policy and Enlargement Negotiations Johannes Hahn said he is “confident” about organising this conference “in early 2015”. The EU has provided €1.36 billion as part of the macro-financial assistance programmes.
High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Federica Mogherini and Hahn have highlighted the importance of implementing the reforms and adopting legislation on the fight against corruption, the rule of law and the independence of the judiciary. “Of course we will continue to provide financial support to Ukraine, but this will depend on reforms”, said Hahn. In its conclusions, the Association Council stated that the EU and Ukraine had agreed on “the importance of coordinating the aid, and the need for Ukraine to finalise a national reform strategy swiftly for 2015-2017 so as to define the priorities and attract international support for the reforms and the recovery”.
On Tuesday 16 December, several ministers from the Yatsenyuk government spoke about the ongoing reforms. The minister for finance, Natalia Yaresko, said that the new year will begin with a new budget and tax system. Her colleague for justice, Petro Petrenko, emphasised anti-corruption legislation, the law on the prosecutor's office and judicial reforms. The minister for the economy, Alvares Abromavicius, wants reforms on deregulation, public procurement and public enterprise.
Ukraine is “battlefield for Russia”. Yatsenyuk also said that Ukraine was a “battlefield for Russia against the West, against the EU, against members of NATO, and against international law and order”. Moscow's goal is “to annex Ukraine, to make Ukraine disappear”, Yatsenyuk added. He urged Russia to implement the Minsk agreements, beginning with border control, and also stated that the choice of integrating the EU was Ukraine's choice. “Those who are strong must support Ukraine. Those who are weak can find the excuse that they are humiliated.” (CG)