Minister for Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Kostyantyn Gryshchenko within the framework of celebration of the Day of Europe opened the conference “Ukraine on the way to integration to the EU: modern state and further prospects”

Minister for Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Kostyantyn Gryshchenko within the framework of celebration of the Day of Europe delivered an opening speech at the conference “Ukraine on the way to integration to the EU: modern state and further prospects” at the Institute of International Relations of the Kyiv National Taras Shevchenko University.

The May 20 conference was attended by members of parliament, representatives of the European parliament, famous political scientists, international relations experts representing leading domestic and European think tanks and foreign diplomats.

In his opening speech the Minister noted the progress, recently reached by Ukraine on the way to European integration. As he stressed, the 2011 is the year of strategic opportunities for Ukraine. During the current year Ukraine expects to complete talks on the Association Agreement, including the formation of a free trade area with the EU and active implementation of the Action Plan on liberalization of the visa regime for Ukraine.

“The progress in each of these directions determines the development of relations between Ukraine and the EU for the coming years. The successfulness of the European integration course of Ukraine in a long term perspective depends on that progress”, K.Gryshchenko said.

At the same time, according to the Minister, the key to the European integration is in the Europeanization of the state through the implementation of Europe-style systematic reforms.

The Ukrainian Foreign Minister also stressed that this year Ukraine marks the Day of Europe for the ninth time since 2003. This Day symbolizes the choice of Ukraine in favor of the return to its historic roots and common European house.