In the framework of the visit to the EU institutions on December 1 Foreign Minister of Ukraine Pavlo Klimkin met with EU Commissioner for European Neighbourhood Policy and enlargement negotiations Johannes Hahn.

Minister P.Klimkin informed the Commissioner about the situation in the Donbas related to the ongoing Russian aggression against Ukraine, as well as about numerous violations of the ceasefire by Russia supported militants, which were observed recently.

The parties welcomed the anticipated start of the implementation of a deep and comprehensive free trade area between Ukraine and the EU on January 1, 2016, and exclude the adoption of any decision that will change the substance or meaning of the Agreement.

P.Klimkin informed about the current results of the implementation of internal reforms by the Ukrainian Government and stressed the importance of continued EU support of these efforts, including through financial assistance.

They discussed the state of implementation of Ukraine –EU Visa liberalization Action Plan and Ukraine’progress assessment by the European Commission, expected by the mid-December. The Minister stressed that the visa-free regime with the EU for citizens of Ukraine will be a worthy response to the European aspirations of Ukrainian society and country’s progress in reforms.

Special attention was devoted to the revision of the European Neighbourhood Policy, which was recently presented by the European Commission.