Brussels, 02/05/2005 (Agence Europe) - As part of the action plan for the implementation of the neighbourhood policy, the EU and Ukraine have decided to step up their energy cooperation. At a visit to Kiev last week, the Commissioner for Energy, Andris Piebalgs, talked to Deputy Prime Minister Oleg Rybachuk and energy minister Ivan Plachkov about ways of extending cooperation on subjects of common interest, such as the liberalisation of the energy markets, energy efficiency, renewable energy, nuclear safety and cooperation on common infrastructure projects. It was agreed that the Commissioner and the Ukrainian minister will meet annually from now on to take stock of energy cooperation between the EU and Ukraine and, if necessary, to launch new initiatives. Mr Piebalgs and Mr Plachkov also signed a Ukraine/Euratom Agreement for Cooperation on Peaceful Uses of Nuclear Energy. “This agreement (which has been under negotiation since 1999) confirms the Commission's commitment to boosting nuclear safety throughout the world. The non-proliferation of nuclear weapons is an important part of the agreement, as is the prevention of the illegal sales of nuclear material, which is crucial for the prevention of nuclear terrorism”, said Mr Piebalgs.