Brussels, 21/09/2006 (Agence Europe) - At the end of a meeting with Ukrainian prime minister Viktor Ianoukovitch on Thursday in Brussels, president Barroso said that he was confident that the new Ukrainian government would continue its political and economic reforms “in respect of the principles of democracy and the market economy”. The Commission is encouraging Kiev to continue on the road of the rule of law, respect for human rights, the fight against corruption and improving the business climate, which, according to Barroso would give their relations “a positive momentum”. He also pointed out that negotiations for a new bilateral agreement (replacing the current Partnership and Cooperation Agreement) would undoubtedly begin at the beginning of next year. On energy cooperation Barroso informed the press that he welcomed, “the assurances that enough gas will be pumped into Ukraine's underground storage facilities to cover the internal demand in Ukraine as well as in the EU over the next winter months”. Mr Ianoukovitch, who was in Brussels last week, pointed out that EU accession remained a “long term strategic objective” of his country.