Ukraine and EU sign agreement to liberalize transit, bilateral int'l transportation by road

MOSCOW. June 30 (Interfax) - Ukraine and the European Union have signed an agreement on cargo transportation by road, Ukrainian media outlets quoted Ukraine's Infrastructure Ministry as saying on social media on Wednesday.

The agreement eliminates the need for Ukrainian shipping companies to receive bilateral and transit traffic permits in the EU, thus helping prevent disruptions to exports of Ukrainian products via vehicle crossing points, the ministry said.

"We managed to agree to sign this agreement within a very short period of time - the negotiations started in the fall of last year. Understanding the complicated logistics situation in Ukraine caused by the blockade of the seaports and the damage inflicted on transport infrastructure, European colleagues moved in a synchronized manner to meet us halfway, and significantly expedited the approval process for the agreement," Ukrainian Infrastructure Minister Oleksandr Kubrakov was quoted by the ministry's press service as saying.

Furthermore, people holding either Ukrainian or EU driving licenses will no longer have to receive an international driving license.

The agreement has been signed for one year and can be prolonged. It temporarily takes effect today, and will enter into force on a permanent basis after all ratification procedures are finalized.

"Today, we have taken another step toward de facto membership in the EU. I am grateful to European partners for their readiness to promptly adopt such important decisions," Kubrakov said.