Commissioner Verheugen’s Optimism and Foreboding

The European Commission will increase financial support to EU neighbor countries, including Ukraine, after 2006. This was announced by EU Commissioner on Expansion GЯnter Verheugen at the opening ceremony of the Ukrainian-German Forum in Brussels. He said that the European Union is prepared to go beyond the existing agreements in its cooperation with Kyiv. In part, the EU can give Ukraine, its future neighbor, access to its markets. In Commissioner Verheugen’s view, after 2006 the European Commission can offer Ukraine and other future neighbors broader technical and financial support. Simultaneously, the commissioner stressed that Kyiv should implement political and economic reforms and adjust its legislation to the European standards. Mr. Verheugen also stressed that the European Union is closely following the Ukrainian elections, reports Deutsche Welle.