First-ever consultations between Ukraine and European Commission to take place on Feb 2 - Shmygal

MOSCOW. Feb 1 (Interfax) - The first-ever consultations between the Ukrainian government and the European Commission will take place on February 2, Ukraine's Prime Minister Denis Shmygal said.

"Two major events in the field of Ukraine's integration with Europe will take place this week. The first-ever consultations between the government of Ukraine and the European Commission will take place on February 2, and the EU-Ukraine Summit will be held in Kiev on February 3," Ukrainian media quoted Shmygal as saying at a government meeting on Tuesday.

First and foremost, Ukraine expects the summit to give a positive interim assessment of the country's European integration efforts, he said.

"We want to draw up a detailed roadmap on how to go through the European integration path as quickly and successfully as possible - from assessing the work that we have done after receiving [EU] candidate status to starting substantive negotiations on Ukraine's entry into the European Union," the prime minister said

Furthermore, the agenda of the EU-Ukraine Summit will include sectoral integration of the Ukrainian economy into the European space, in particular, the importance of providing all Ukrainian goods with long-term access to the EU market without quotas and duties.

"We also hope for progress in Ukraine's accession to the Single Euro Payments Area (SEPA) and in joining the Common Roaming Space. The Agreement on Conformity Assessment and Acceptance of Industrial Products remains on our agenda," Shmygal said.

Discussions on financial assistance for Ukraine to facilitate the rapid restoration of the energy sector, infrastructure, and damaged housing are also important, he added.