OREANDA-NEWS. May 06, 2013. The First vice Prime Minister of Ukraine Serhiy Arbuzov has met with the Vice-President of the European Commission, Commissioner for Economic and Monetary Affairs and the Euro Olli Rehn.

The sides stressed the importance of the future EU-Ukraine Association Agreement and a deep and comprehensive free trade area to improve the business, investment climate, macroeconomic indicators and economic modernization and to increase competitiveness in Ukraine. Serhiy Arbuzov and Olli Rehn stressed the commitment to make every effort to ensure the signing of the Agreement in Vilnius during the Eastern Partnership Summit.

Special attention was devoted to discussion of the macroeconomic situation in Ukraine. Serhiy Arbuzov informed the European side on the negotiation process with the International Monetary Fund. He also emphasized the importance of practical applications of macro-financial assistance to Ukraine to maintaining stability of Ukrainian financial and economic system; the agreements were signed during the EU-Ukraine Summit on February 25.

In this regard, the First vice Prime Minister of Ukraine assured Olli Rehn about the readiness of the Government of Ukraine to cooperate closely with the EU to reform public financial management system, improve the legislation on public procurement and improve the business climate in Ukraine.

Also Serhiy Arbuzov met with the European Commissioner for Budget and Financial Programming Janusz Lewandowski.

The main focus the parties have made on the discussion of possible ways to consolidate resources of EU external assistance to support Ukraine in implementing the provisions of the FTA with the EU. Janusz Lewandowski assured on positive attitude towards the integration of Ukraine into the European community. He said the Lithuanian presidency of the EU, which will start from July 1, will be of particular help to move this way and the development of relations with Ukraine will be one of the priorities of Lithuania's Presidency of the EU.

The First vice Prime Minister of Ukraine Serhiy Arbuzov is in Brussels, it is his first official visit. The delegation includes Minister of Finance of Ukraine Yuriy Kolobov, Minister of Incomes and Fees Oleksandr Klymenko, Minister of Agrarian Policy and Food Mykola Prysyazhnyuk, Deputy Governor of the National Bank Mykola Udovychenko, Government Commissioner for European Integration Valeriy Pyatnytskyi.