Ukraine holding sectoral talks with EU - PM Shmyhal

MOSCOW. June 29 (Interfax) - The Ukrainian government is holding sectoral negotiations in eight areas with the European Union, a process which has become possible after Ukraine was granted EU candidate country status, Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal said.

Specifically, Ukraine plans to join the Convention on a Common Transit Procedure (NCTS), which allows goods to move between the EU and common transit countries or between the common transit countries themselves with duty being paid in the country of final destination, the Ukrainian media said. The final assessment mission of Ukraine's readiness to join the NCTS took place in an online format at the end of June, producing a positive conclusion. The adoption of relevant legislation in the second reading is pending.

Another avenue of this work is preparations to sign the Agreement on Liberalization of Road Transport, which should take place in the coming days. Once it happens, Ukrainian companies will no longer be required to receive transport permits.

Shmyhal also underscored the importance of creating a common roaming space between Ukraine and the EU. This means that Ukrainians will no longer have to pay for roaming in the countries of the EU, and EU citizens will not have to pay for roaming in Ukraine.

Furthermore, preparations are underway for Ukraine's accession to the single euro payment area without fees, a move that will be felt by Ukrainian citizens both domestially and abroad.

The prime minister also reiterated the importance of integrating the energy system of Ukraine with the energy grid of continental Europe, especially in the context of expanding exports, adding that a conclusion needed for that has already been received.

It is also important to sign an agreement that will open mutual access to the markets of industrial products, on Ukraine's integration into the EU digital market, and on Ukraine's accession to all European Green Deal initiatives, he said.