OREANDA-NEWS. September 27, 2010. Mr. Yuriy Boyko, the Ukrainian Minister of Fuel and Energy, and Mr. Fatmir Besimi, the Macedonian Minister of Economy, signed the Accession Protocol at the 8th MinisterialCouncil of the Energy Community in Skopje (Macedonia) on Friday, as the Community’s secretariat informed Interfax. Representing the Vice-Presidency, Mr. Fabrizio Barbaso, Deputy Director General for Energy at the European Commission also took part in the ceremony.

‘Today’s signature signals our political will to align the principles of Ukrainian energy policy with that of the EU. I expect the Ukrainian parliament to ratify the Treaty very quickly within the coming months,’ said Yuriy Boyko.

‘Ukraine's accession is a major milestone in the Energy Community process. Today we witness the deepening of the EU energy policy and extension of its borders,’ noted Fatmir Besimi.

‘I am impressed by the dynamics of the Energy Community process. Today’s signing ceremony adds force to the ultimate objective of creating a pan-European energy market on the ground of the EU principles and rules’, Mr. Barbaso added.

The Ministerial Council of the Energy Community approved the accession of Ukraine and Moldova in December 2009. The signature of the Accession Protocol was, however, made subject to the adoption of a gas law in compliance with EU relevant rules. As the final step, the Ukrainian Parliament is expected to ratify the Treaty.