Participants of the upcoming EU-Ukraine Summit in Brussels will discuss the prospects for signing the Association Agreement between the sides, the upgrade of Ukraine's gas transport system (GTS), as well as visa liberalization, according to the Foreign Ministry of Ukraine.

Acting Director of the Foreign Ministry's Information Policy Department Yevhen Perebyinis said at a press briefing on Tuesday that the 16th EU-Ukraine Summit will be held on February 25.

"Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych will lead the Ukrainian delegation at the summit. President of the European Council Herman Van Rompuy and President of the European Commission Jose Manuel Barroso will represent the EU," he said.

Perebyinis added that during the summit the sides would sum up the results of their cooperation in 2012, as well as outline their tasks for 2013.

"The key issues on the agenda include prospects for signing the EU-Ukraine Association Agreement, as well as steps the sides are to take in order to sign it at the Eastern Partnership Summit in Vilnius," the ministry's spokesman said.

According to Perebyinis, the Ukrainian delegation is planning to present its results and plans for the near future to implement political and socio-economic reforms aimed at the introduction of European standards in various spheres. In addition, the sides will discuss prospects of trade intensification, particularly in the context of the creation of a free trade area (FTA).

"According to the agreements reached in the negotiation process, an FTA could be created soon after the signing of the Association Agreement via temporary use of its parts," Perebyinis said.

He added that the sides will also raise energy issues, particularly the modernization of Ukraine's GTS and international financial institutions' assistance to Ukraine.

The delegations will also discuss visa liberalization prospects for Ukrainians at the summit, according to the ministry.

"In connection with this, the Ukrainian side intends to demonstrate its progress in the implementation of the Visa Liberalization Action Plan and confirm the achievement of most criteria envisaged by its first legislative stage," Perebyinis said.