Kyiv, October 23 (Interfax-Ukraine) – The Confederation of Builders of Ukraine on October 22, 2013 signed cooperation agreements with the European Economic Senate (EES) and the Taxpayers Association of Europe (TAE).

"Today we want to sign agreements in public. First of all, the goal of the signing is the attraction of foreign investment to Ukraine. We seriously want to introduce European business standards in Ukraine, with amendments to Ukrainian law," President of the Confederation of Builders of Ukraine Lev Partskhaladze said at a press conference devoted to the signing of the agreements at Interfax-Ukraine on Tuesday, October 22.

Partskhaladze said that under the agreements the confederation would like to exchange experience with Europe in law and tax issues and plans to host events not only in Ukraine, but also abroad to popularize Ukraine.

Vice-President and Board Chairman of the Confederation Oleksandr Rotov expressed hope that the cooperation will allow Ukrainian companies to expand their opportunities of operation on foreign construction markets.

"We propose the following relation system to European society via the EES and TAE: we open the doors of the construction and investment markets via the Confederation of Builders of Ukraine," he said.

Rotov added that the agreements will not be only declarative documents, and a lot of working documents will be attached to them.

EES Chief Executive Officer Michael Jäger said that the Senate would like to considerably improve Ukraine's access to financial markets (to achieve 3-8% credit rates); the mobility of workforce; the protection of intellectual property rights; the protection of consumer rights; the introduction of digital technologies; and social responsibility of companies. Attention is to be paid to the reduction of expenses to overcome red tape and optimize the state procurement system.

"We're very glad that we have such partners. We're very glad that our partners are reliable and successful businessmen, and we can learn from each other. The mutual exchange of information and knowledge is very important. Our joint goal is for Ukraine to become a full member of the European Union earlier than expected today," he said.

TAE President Rolf von Hohenhau said that the fighting corruption in Ukraine is important.

The Confederation of Builders of Ukraine was created in April 2011 through merging the Ukrainian Construction Association, the Construction Chamber of Ukraine and the All-Ukrainian Union of Manufacturers of Construction Materials and Goods.

As of September 2013 the confederation unites over 700 construction companies. Its representative offices are located in 25 regions.

The European Economic Senate (EES), founded in 1997, is an independent body of enterprises and individuals that represent European business interests. The number of senators is limited to 300 individuals, representing as many different fields of industry as possible.