14:09 14.03.2013

Ukraine to draw up program on cooperation with Customs Union, draft agreement on trade with CIS in 2013, says plan of reforms

3 min read

The plan for the introduction of the economic reform program for 2013 approved under a decree of Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych envisages the drawing up of a program on cooperation of Ukraine with the member states of the Customs Union for the medium-term outlook.

This is stipulated in a national action plant for 2013 on the introduction of the economic reform program for 2010-2014, entitled "Prosperous Society, Competitive Economy, and Effective State," which has been posted on the president's Web site.

According to the plan, the program of cooperation of Ukraine with Russia, Belarus and Kazakhstan is to be drawn up and presented to the Ukrainian government by June 2013. The Economic Development and Trade Ministry is responsible for the implementation of the task.

In addition, the plan foresees that a draft agreement on trade with services between CIS states will be drawn up by December 2013. The Economic Development and Trade Ministry is responsible for the implementation of the task.

If the Ukraine-EU Association Agreement is signed this year, the Foreign Ministry, Justice Ministry and Economic Development and Trade Ministry are to design a draft law on the ratification of the Association Agreement within three months and submit it to president for its submission to parliament.

The three ministries and the Ukrainian prime minister over the year are to submit a draft presidential decree on the national system of coordination of the implementation of the Association Agreement and issue a cabinet act on the approval of the program on the implementation of the Agreement.

According to the plan, this year talks on the signing of free trade agreements with Serbia and Canada, and continue similar talks with Turkey on conditions that are in line with the interests of Ukrainian goods producers in the top-priority economic sectors. The country is to prepare for talks on the signing of free trade agreements with Israel and Vietnam and to study the practicability of holding similar talks with Egypt, India and the Cooperation Council for the Arab States of the Gulf.

The document also says that a project agreement between Ukraine and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) on the modernization of the Ukrainian gas transport system is to be signed and ratified by Ukrainian parliament during the year.

The plan says that 200,000 gas meters in private houses and apartments are to be installed within the year, which will cover 20% of the total number of households where gas is used to heat water and for cooking. It is expected that the differentiation of natural gas prices for households will be reduced and the National Commission for Energy Regulation (NCER) is responsible for this.

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