Expert: Ukraine could benefit from economic cooperation with EU

Kyiv, December 26 (Interfax-Ukraine) – Ukraine could receive political benefits from economic cooperation with the European Union, Head of the Institute for Economic Research and Policy Consulting Ihor Burakovsky has said.

"Despite all of the critical points related to the [Ukraine-EU] summit on December 19, Ukraine still made certain steps and progressed through European integration in terms of implementing certain legislative acts of the European Union. One of the main results of such implementation was Ukraine's accession to the European Energy Community. This is one of the major trends and results of Ukraine's sectoral integration, and on this basis it is possible to take advantage of certain benefits and get both political and economic results," he said at a news conference at the Interfax-Ukraine news agency on Monday.

The political analyst also noted progress in the field of transport cooperation with the EU. In particular, the adoption of the Air Code foresees the significant strengthening of the protection of passengers' rights, he added.

In addition, Burakovsky said that "some progress" had been made in the field of public procurement.

At the same time, the political scientist said that Ukraine would be able to receive all of the benefits from economic cooperation with the European Union if the reforms in the country are not declarative.