Press Release: Commissioner Ferrero-Waldner at inauguration of President Yushchenko

European Commissioner for External Relations and European Neighbourhood Policy, Benita Ferrero-Waldner, attended the inauguration of President Yushchenko in Kiev on 23 January 2005. The new President was taking office after a repeat second round of the elections which international observers noted had brought Ukraine 'substantially closer' to international standards for free and fair elections. The European Commission was fully committed to working with the new President to significantly deepen the relationship between the EU and Ukraine both politically and economically, under the European Neighbourhood Policy. This was thought to include the Commission's strong and sustained support to President Yushchenko's agenda of broad and deep political and economic reforms. A new Action Plan negotiated with Ukraine had been approved by the Commission and the Council in December 2004. Following the democratic elections it was possible to launch the implementation of that plan, subject to the final procedural steps.

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