Brussels offers early welcome to Yanukovich / EU urges Ukraine to adopt economic reforms

Preview and reports of visit to Brussels by Ukraine's newly elected president, Viktor Yanukovich, 1 March 2010.

EU leaders urged Mr Yanukovich to observe budgetary discipline and introduce long-term economic reforms so that the International Monetary Fund can reactivate a multibillion-dollar aid programme aimed at reviving its stricken economy.

The possibility was also raised that the EU and Ukraine might conclude a free trade agreement in 12 months, helping to bind the country into the EU economy and contributing to the consolidation of the rule of law.

Mr Yanukovich said that 'European integration is the key priority of our foreign policy, and also a strategy for carrying out systemic social and economic reforms'.

ESO: Background information: Yanukovich sworn in as Ukraine president http://www.europeansources.info/record/yanukovich-sworn-in-as-ukraine-president/

BBC News, 1.3.10: Ukraine seeks better ties with EU, Yanukovych says http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/8543283.stm

European Commission: SPEECH/10/50: José Manuel Durão Barroso President of the European Commission Statement following the meeting with the President of Ukraine Viktor Yanukovych Joint Press Point Brussels, 1 March 2010 http://europa.eu/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=SPEECH/10/50&format=HTML&aged=0&language=EN&guiLanguage=en

Deutsche Welle, 1.3.10: First foreign trip takes Ukraine's new president to Brussels http://www.dw-world.de/dw/article/0,,5301333,00.html

EurActiv, 2.3.10: Ukraine's Yanukovich pledges to work for EU integration http://www.euractiv.com/en/east-mediterranean/ukraine-s-yanukovich-pledges-work-eu-integration-news-299768

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