Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Leonid Kozhara stressed the importance of European integration and good relations with Russia.
also in this issue:
Ukraine demonstrates breakthrough in Doing Business Rating Page 4
Ukraine actively develops renewable energy facilities Page 5
Ukraine represented at the XXII Winter Olympics in Sochi Page 6
Ukraine Digest, Friday, February 7, 2014
Page 2
politics
President met UN secretary general IN SOCHI, President of Ukraine Viktor Yanukovych has held a meeting with Secretary-General of the United Nations Ban Ki-moon. The parties have discussed the situation in Ukraine and the issues of future cooperation between our state and the UN. “I am glad to meet with you and continue our dialogue on current developments in Ukraine and urgent issues of cooperation between Ukraine and the UN,” the Head of State noted at the beginning of the meeting. Viktor Yanukovych expressed gratitude to Ban Ki-moon for his attention to Ukraine.
The President says our state is attentive to the initiatives of the UN regarding the settlement of the political situation in Ukraine. “I am grateful for your balanced and considered position and agree with calls for tolerance in order to avoid further tension and violence as well as hold constructive dialogue,” the President stressed. The Head of State emphasizes that Ukrainian government will make every effort to prevent the escalation of the conflict. “We have managed to make some important steps in the process of peaceful settlement of the political crisis recently,” Viktor Yanukovych said.
Political situation in Ukraine discussed with US representative
PRESIDENT of Ukraine Viktor Yanukovych met with U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs Victoria Nuland on February 6, 2014. The parties have discussed the ways to settle the internal political situation in Ukraine through the dialogue between the government and the opposition. In the course of the meeting, the Head of State emphasized that he would do everything to prevent the escalation of the conflict.
He noted that all the issues should be resolved exclusively through peaceful negotiations and political dialogue. “It is only through dialogue and compromise that we can overcome the political crisis,” the President said. According to him, in the nearest time the liberation of the detained during mass rallies will be accelerated. The Head of State also emphasized that he supported the holding of the constitutional reform in compliance with all the necessary procedures on the elaboration of the Basic Law as soon as possible. Viktor Yanukovych expressed readiness to continue dialogue with the opposition.
© Ukrinform
President Viktor Yanukovych thanks SecretaryGeneral of the United Nations Ban Ki-moon for balanced position on Ukraine
Parliament’s Chairman met European diplomats UKRAINIAN Parliament Speaker Volodymyr Rybak met the heads of the diplomatic missions of the EU states on February 3. He informed foreign diplomats on the efforts of the Verkhovna Rada to settle down situation in Ukraine and to achieve stability in the society. Particular attention was paid to the work to amend the Constitution of Ukraine.
Mr Rybak also stressed that the introducing of a state of emergency in Ukraine is not considered. Speaker also urged foreign diplomats to assure their respective governments and parliaments that the Ukrainian authority realize the complicated nature of the situation and is determined to settle it purely by peaceful means with due respect to the rights and freedoms of the citizens.
www.UkraineDigest.co.uk
Ukraine Digest, Friday, February 7, 2014
Page 3
foreign policy
Ukraine’s European path doesn’t contradict cooperation with Russia
UKRAINE’S Foreign Minister Leonid Kozhara, pictured, has stated on February 3 in Munich, Germany, that the European path of Ukraine does not contradict the development of effective cooperation with the Russia. He stressed the importance of the established course towards European integration of Ukraine and the
Kyiv hopes for association agreement road map Today the government is preparing its proposals for the Road Map for the implementation of the Association Agreement. We expect that the Ukrainian delegation will discuss the Road Map with representatives of the European Commission in Brussels soon». Leonid Kozhara, Ukrainian Foreign Minister
priority support for good relations with Russia. Improved terms of trade with Russia, improvements in economic growth in the European Union will make it possible to achieve the GDP growth in Ukraine of 3% in 2014, analysts believe. According to forecasts of the Organization for Eco-
nomic Cooperation and Development, the Eurozone in 2014 will come out of the recession and achieve a small GDP growth of 1%. Economy is expected to be the most active in the second half of 2014. It is noteworthy that the Russian economy is also in the growth zone at about 1-1.5%. Thus, it remains optimal for Ukraine to maintain and develop cooperation with the EU and Russia. And, according to analysts, particularly because of its export orientation the Ukrainian economy this year will show growth due to the revitalization of Russian and the EU markets. Trade volumes of Ukraine with Russia and the EU countries show that these economic partners are equally important for the Ukrainian market. According to the Cabinet’s analysts, in the 11 months of 2013, 35.5 % of total exports were to the CIS countries, 26.1% - to the EU. The largest exports of goods among EU member states were made to Poland, Italy, Germany, Hungary, the Netherlands and Spain. The same can be said about the imports. 36.3% of all goods were imported from the CIS countries, 35% - from the EU. Main imports come from Germany, Poland, Italy, France, Hungary and the United Kingdom.
Ministry for Foreign Affairs comments on the European Parliament Resolution on the Situation in Ukraine “Ukraine has taken into consideration the approval of the Resolution on the Situation in Ukraine by the European Parliament on February 6, 2014. The document contains a series of signals that coincide with the approaches of the Government of Ukraine towards the settling of the political crisis in our country. Seeking for a mutually acceptable political and legal compromise in terms of overcoming the crisis through a peaceful dialogue, prevention of violent actions and guarantees of respect of the rights and freedoms have always been and remain the basis of actions of Ukrainian authorities.
At the same time, it is a cause for disappointment that certain bias is displayed in the assessment by the European Parliament of the actions of the Ukrainian authorities, and in the fact that those assessments tend to ignore major part of the constructive efforts of the leaders of Ukraine, aimed at building trust and maintaining peaceful and inclusive dialogue with the opposition and the civil society. Ukraine confirms that the course of European integration and continuation of social, political and economic reforms remains an invariable priority of our more details country”. www.UkraineDigest.co.uk
Ukraine Digest, Friday, February 7, 2014
Page 4
economy
THE WORLD BANK analysts placed Ukraine on the 112th spot in the Doing Business 2014 rating. In 2013, the grading embraced comprehensive comparative analysis of 189 world’s economies. Overall, Ukraine has made reforms in eight areas and improved its rating in six out of ten areas of business regulation. In 2013 Ukraine has demonstrated significant progress in dealing with construction permits jumping from 183rd to 41st position. The specialists of Doing Business explain such improvement by the country’s introducing a risk-based approval system and simplifying the process for registering real estate ownership rights. Additionally, Ukraine made transferring property easier by streamlining procedures and revamping the property
registration system. The recent reforms made Ukraine climb 52 notches reaching the 97th position in registering property. Reportedly, Ukraine is set to continue making improvements in all areas of business including the ones indicated in Doing Business report. “We plan to enhance the usage of remote and digital means for registering businesses. Particularly, we will enable getting the necessary business documentation via Internet, introduce the messaging framework for monitoring the documents and install the respective facilities in 120 Ukrainian cities,” noted Dmytro Vorona, chairman of the State Registration Service of Ukraine. He expects Ukraine to jump another 60 positions in 2014.
The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development launched a new program in Ukraine, which is aimed at supporting the development of sustainable energy sources and energy efficiency in the country. The program’s funding amounts to $100 million. The sustainable energy financing program is a continuation of the Ukrainian Energy Efficiency Program implemented in 2007 - 2013. Loans will be issued to Ukrainian companies to enhance energy efficiency, reduce energy needs and, respectively, preserve the environment.
An operating agreement on shale gas production between Ukraine and the U.S. oil and gas company Chevron may be signed in March 2014. Therefore, Chevron will be able to actually start development of the Oleska field in Lviv and IvanoFrankivsk regions. In November 2013, Ukraine already signed a production-sharing agreement with Chevron. According to the document, the company intends to invest about $10 billion in production of hydrocarbons in western regions of Ukraine.
We, at the World Bank Group, are encouraged by Ukraine’s regulatory improvements in the past year. The country’s ranking in this year’s Doing Business report shows that a lot can be achieved in a short time when there is a political will for reform. The current reforms make Ukraine the best place to do business». Qimiao Fan, World Bank Country Director for Belarus, Moldova and Ukraine
An investment program of the Royal Dutch Shell for 2014 was approved last week. The company signed a $10 bln shale gas deal with the Ukrainian government on January 24, 2013 in Davos. In September 2013, Shell and “Yuzovsky Nadra” signed the operating productionsharing agreement on shale gas, which resulted in investor company right for legal and actual start of work on exploration and production of hydrocarbons in Yuzivska field in Ukraine’s east. In 2014, drilling of three wells is planned. www.UkraineDigest.co.uk
Ukraine Digest, Friday, February 7, 2014
Page 5
energy
THE TOTAL installed capacity of renewable energy facilities grew by 81.7% in 2013, the State Agency for Energy Efficiency and Energy Saving of Ukraine reports. Investing in renewable energy continued to gain momentum in the last few years in Ukraine. Renewable energy sources such as wind and solar farms, biomass, small hydropower plants
Electronic waste recycling in Ukraine is to be increase up to 30-35% by 2020
produced 1.5 billion KWh in 2013. Experts associated the investors’ interest in renewable energy with the active stimulation policy of the government. They say Ukraine stimulates production of renewable electricity in the form of so called Green Tariff, taxation benefits, preferential mode of connection to the mains.
According to Ukraine’s commitments as a member of European Energy Association, the share of renewable energy in the overall energy balance increase up to 12% by 2020. Energy market analysts say that Ukraine has a sufficient potential for development of renewable energy sources, which can cover up to 30% of total energy consumption by 2030.
THE PROSPECTS of implementating of the Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) system in Ukraine were discussed at the meeting of the Ukrainian Ministry of Regional Development with European waste treatment experts. The introduction of WEEE will help to minimize the harm to the environment by electronic waste in Ukraine.
This system obliges manufacturers, importers and sellers of electronic equipment to collect and reuse or recycle electronic waste. According to the UN Environment Programme estimates, the world annually produces about 50 million tons of electronic waste, which accumulates 3 times faster than any other waste. Recycling of electronic waste contributes to the rational use of resources. For example, every year Germany recycles waste for half a trillion Euros, and the share of waste recycling reaches 65%.
The total volumes of traditional energy resources saving in Ukraine from 2012 to 2030 may reach 792.82 million tons of coal equivalent
In Ukraine, the figure is only 5%, but with WEEE in place, government experts predict an increase in the proportion of recycling up to 30-35% by 2020. Creation of a well-functioning system for collection and recycling of electronic waste in Ukraine is an imperative. Currently the country is using 53.6 million mobile units, it annually imports around 300,000 laptop computers, 277 million batteries, which are potentially hazardous waste, unless properly disposed or recycled. www.UkraineDigest.co.uk
Ukraine Digest, Friday, February 7, 2014
Page 6
sport
The XXII Olympic Winter Games opened in Sochi on February 7. World Championships bronze medalist Valentyna Shevchenko, cross country skier, carried the Ukrainian flag during the parade of teams participating in the Olympics. Ukraine is represented by 43 athletes at the Olympics. Ukrainian athletes will compete in 9 of 15 sports, namely in biathlon (11 athletes), cross country (8 athletes), figure skating (6 athletes), luge (6 athletes) freestyle (6 athletes), alpine skiing (2 athletes), snowboarding (2 athletes), nordic combined and short track (1 athlete).
President Viktor Yanukovych wished Ukrainian athletes victories at the meeting with national Olympic team.
© Ukrinform
Ukraine hopes to win medals in two sports at the Winter Olympic Games in Sochi, Youth and Sports Minister Ravil Safiullin has said. “Our athletes have shown good results in various competitions in biathlon and freestyle. I’m talking about the sports in which we hope to win medals at the Olympic Games,” Minister said.
For more information, please, contact Oksana Kyzyma, Press Secretary of the Embassy of Ukraine to the UK
Tel.: 020 7727 6312 E-mail: press@ukremb.org.uk Address: 60 Holland Park, London W11 3SJ
Issue #3(30), February 7, 2014 In the preparation of this issue materials of UKRINFORM, WNU-Ukraine, info-kmu.com.ua were used