# EUR-Lex - 52015JC0004 - EN

*|*

# 52015JC0004

**Joint Proposal for a COUNCIL DECISION on the Union position within the Association Council established by the Association Agreement between the European Union, the European Atomic Energy Community and its Member States, of the one part and Ukraine, of the other part with regard to the adoption of a Recommendation on the implementation of the EU-Ukraine Association Agenda /* JOIN/2015/0004 final */**

			*

			*

EXPLANATORY MEMORANDUM

Relations
between the EU and Ukraine are currently based on those parts of the
Association Agreement which are provisionally applied[1], on the parts of the
Partnership and Co-operation Agreement (PCA)[2] remaining in force, as well as on the European Neighborhood Policy
framework. After signing the political chapters of the
EU-Ukraine Association Agreement at the EU summit of 21 March 2014, both
parties signed the remaining sections of the Agreement - including the Deep and
Comprehensive Free Trade Area (DCFTA) - in the margins of the EU summit of 27
June 2014. On 16 September 2014, the Association Agreement was ratified by the
Ukrainian Parliament and consent was given by the European Parliament, enabling
the provisional application of the relevant provisions of the Association
Agreement as of 1 November 2014, and the DCFTA-part as of 1 January 2016.

In order to
ensure that the EU and Ukraine would be able to enjoy the full benefits of the
Agreement, starting with its partial provisional application, the Association
Agenda (earlier version) was adopted by the EU-Ukraine Cooperation Council on
23 November 2009. Its operational part was amended several times and the last
update was endorsed by the EU-Ukraine Cooperation Council in Luxembourg, on 24
June 2013.

Given recent
developments - the provisional application of the Association Agreement and the
urgent need for reforms in Ukraine - it became an important political priority
to update the Association Agenda so as to reflect the current state of play of
the relations between the EU and Ukraine.

The aim of the
Association Agenda is to prepare and facilitate the implementation of the
Association Agreement, by creating a practical
framework through which the overall objectives of political association and
economic integration can be realised and by providing a list of priorities for
joint work on a sector by sector basis.

The Association
Agenda is also a vehicle for monitoring and assessment of Ukraine’s progress in
implementing the EU-Ukraine Association Agreement, achieving
the overall objectives of political association and economic integration, ensuring respect
for common values, and converging with the EU's acquis in specific areas, as
foreseen in the Association Agreement.

The fact that
the Association Agenda focuses on a more limited number of priorities does not
affect the scope or the mandate of existing dialogues under the PCA or other
agreements nor should it prejudge the implementation of
the commitments made in the Association Agreement/DCFTA.

The High Representative of the European
Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and the Commission request the
Council to adopt the draft Council Decision attached.

2015/0038 (NLE)

Joint Proposal for a

COUNCIL DECISION

on the Union position within the
Association Council established by the Association Agreement between the
European Union, the European Atomic Energy Community and its Member States, of
the one part and Ukraine, of the other part with regard to the adoption of a
Recommendation on the implementation of the EU-Ukraine Association Agenda

THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,

Having regard to the Treaty on the
Functioning of the European Union, and in particular Article 217, in
conjunction with Article 218(9) thereof,

Having regard to the Association Agreement
between the European Union, the European Atomic Energy Community and its Member
States, of the one part and Ukraine, of the other part (the 'Association
Agreement'), in particular Article 463 thereof,

Having regard to the joint proposal from
the European Commission and the High Representative of the Union for Foreign
Affairs and Security Policy,

Whereas:

(1)       The Association Agreement
was signed on 21 March 2014 and 27 June 2014.

(2)       Pending its entry into
force, the Association Agreement is applied provisionally in accordance with
the Council Decision 2014/294/EU[3]
of 17 March 2014, Council Decision 2014/668/EU[4]
of 23 June 2014 and Council Decision 2014/691/EU of 29 September 2014[5].

(3)       To support the application
of the Association Agreement the Parties have agreed to negotiate an
Association Agenda with a view to providing for a list of priorities for their
joint work on a sector by sector basis.

(4)       The Parties have agreed on
an Association Agenda, which will prepare and facilitate the implementation of
the Association Agreement, and will have to be adopted by the Association
Council set up under the Association Agreement.

(5)       The Union position to be
taken in the Association Council on the adoption of the recommendation on the
implementation of the EU-Ukraine Association Agenda has to be adopted by the
Council,

HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:

Article 1

The Union position within the Association
Council established by the Association Agreement between the European Union,
the European Atomic Energy Community and its Member States, of the one part and
Ukraine, of the other part, with regard to the implementation of the EU-
Ukraine Association Agenda shall be based on the draft Recommendation of the
Association Council attached to this Decision.

Article 2

This Decision shall enter into force on the
day of its adoption.

Done at Brussels,

For
the Council

The
President

[1]               OJ L161 of 29/05/2014, p.1; OJ L278 of 20/09/2014,
p.1

[2]               OJ L49 of 19/02/1998, p.1

[3]               OJ L161/1, 29.5.2014, p. 1

[4]               OJ L 278/1, 20.09.2014, p. 1

[5]               OJ L289/1, 3.10.2014, p. 1

ANNEXES
to the
Joint Proposal for a
COUNCIL DECISION
on the Union position within the Association Council established by the
Association Agreement between the European Union, the European Atomic Energy
Community and its Member States, of the one part and Ukraine, of the other part
with regard to the adoption of a Recommendation on the implementation of the
EU-Ukraine Association Agenda

ANNEX 1

Draft

RECOMMENDATION

On
the implementation of the EU-Ukraine Association Agenda

THE
EU-UKRAINE COOPERATION COUNCIL,

Having regard to the Association Agreement between the European Union, the European
Atomic Energy Community and its Member States, of the one part and Ukraine, of
the other part (the 'Association Agreement'), in particular Article 463
thereof,

Whereas:

(1) 
Pursuant to Article 463 of the Association
Agreement, the Association Council shall have the power to make appropriate
recommendations for the purpose of attaining the objectives therein.

(2) 
Pursuant to Article 476 of the Association
Agreement, the Parties shall take any general or specific measures required to
fulfil their obligations under the Association Agreement.

(3) 
Pending its entry into force, the Association
Agreement is applied provisionally in accordance with the Council Decision
2014/294/EU[1]
of 17 March 2014, Council Decision 2014/668/EU[2]
of 23 June 2014 and Council Decision 2014/691/EU of 29 September 2014[3].

(4) 
The Parties to the Association Agreement have
agreed on the text of the Association Agenda which aims to prepare and
facilitate the implementation of the Association Agreement through creating a
practical framework to realise their overriding objectives of political
association and economic integration.

(5) 
The Association Agenda serves the dual purpose
of setting out concrete steps in bringing the fulfilment of the Parties'
obligations set out in the Association Agreement, and of providing a broader
framework for further strengthening EU-Ukraine relations to involve a
significant measure of economic integration and a deepening of political cooperation,
in accordance with the overall objective of the Association Agreement.

HAS ADOPTED THE FOLLOWING RECOMENDATION

Sole
Article

The Association Council recommends that the
Parties implement the EU-Ukraine Association Agenda set out in the Annex,
insofar as such implementation is directed towards attainment of the objectives
of the Association Agreement between the European
Union, the European Atomic Energy Community and its Member States, of the one
part and Ukraine, of the other part.

Done at [...]

For the Association Council

The President

ANNEX 2

ANNEX 2

EU-Ukraine Association Agenda

to prepare and facilitate the implementation of the
Association Agreement

I.            Strategic part

The European
Union and Ukraine ('the Parties') recognise that the context of their relations
has changed in a significant and positive way. Relations between the EU and
Ukraine are currently based on those parts of the Association Agreement which
are provisionally applied, on the parts of the Partnership and Co-operation
Agreement (PCA) remaining in force, as well as on the
European Neighborhood Policy framework. The Parties
have also developed and launched a Visa Liberalisation Action Plan, the
successful implementation of which is a fundamental element underpinning the
political association and economic integration of Ukraine with the European
Union set out in the Association Agreement, namely regarding the substantial
enhancement of mobility and people-to-people contacts.

The Parties
began negotiations of an Association Agreement in 2007, and of a Deep and
Comprehensive Free Trade Area (DCFTA), to form an integral part of that
Agreement, in 2008. The negotiations of the Association Agreement were
finalised on 19 December 2011, and the Agreement was initialled on 30 March
2012, followed by the DCFTA-part of the Agreement on 19 July 2012. After
signing the political chapters of the EU-Ukraine Association Agreement at the
EU summit of 21 March 2014, both parties signed the remaining sections of the
Agreement - including the Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area (DCFTA) - in
the margins of the EU summit of 27 June 2014.

On 16 September
2014, the Association Agreement was ratified by the Ukrainian Parliament and
consent was given by the European Parliament, enabling the provisional application
of the relevant provisions of the Association Agreement on 1 November 2014, and
the DCFTA-part on 1 January 2016.

Action is needed
to ensure that the Parties are able to enjoy the full benefits of the Agreement
starting with its partial provisional application. The aim of the present
Association Agenda is to prepare and facilitate the implementation of the
Association Agreement, by creating a practical framework through which the
overall objectives of political association and economic integration can be
realised and by providing a list of priorities for joint work on sector by
sector basis. The fact that it focuses on a limited number of priorities should
not affect the scope or the mandate of existing dialogues under the Partnership
and Cooperation Agreement, other relevant Agreements or under the multilateral
track of the Eastern Partnership, as well as scope and
mandate of future dialogues under the Association Agreement, in particular should
not prejudge implementation of commitments made in the AA/DCFTA once it enters
into force or is provisionally applied.

II.          Principles, instruments
and resources for implementing the Association Agenda

The following
common principles will guide the implementation of the Association Agenda:

· 
The Association Agenda is a practical instrument aimed to
prepare and facilitate the full implementation of the EU-Ukraine Association
Agreement as well as the achievement of the overall objectives of political association and economic integration;

· 
The priorities for action of the Association
Agenda complement the responsibilities of the Parties to implement the
provisionally applied parts of the EU-Ukraine Association Agreement and to
implement all its provisions once it enters into force, as well as to consolidate the Parties’ common
understanding of actions needed for further deepening
of political association and economic
integration;

· 
The priorities for action of the Association
Agenda should be defined taking into account the structure of the institutional
framework as set out in the EU-Ukraine Association Agreement acknowledging the
respective duties and responsibilities of each body, namely as regards Parliamentary Association Committee and Civil Society Platform;

· 
The Association Agenda should be implemented in
full respect of the principles of transparency, accountability and
inclusiveness;

· 
The Association Agenda involves an engagement
from both sides in its implementation;

· 
The Association Agenda aims to achieve tangible
and defined results through the progressive implementation of practical
measures;

· 
The Parties recognise the importance of
supporting the agreed priorities through appropriate and sufficient political,
technical and financial means; and

· 
This Association Agenda is the principal vehicle for the monitoring and assessment of Ukraine’s progress in the implementation of the EU-Ukraine
Association Agreement as well as for the monitoring and assessment of the achievement of the overall
objectives of political association and economic integration in general, in particular
regarding Ukraine's track record in ensuring respect for common values, and
progress in achieving convergence with the EU in political, economic and legal
areas. The implementation of the Association Agenda
will be subject to and part of annual
reporting, monitoring and assessment. Progress made will be reviewed within the
structures created under the Association Agreement, the Partnership and
Cooperation Agreement or other relevant Agreements. In
this process the Parties will aim to reach, so far as is possible, an overall
common assessment of annual progress made.

The European
Union will support Ukraine in implementing the objectives and priorities set
out in the Association Agenda. It will do so through using all available
sources of EU support, as well as expertise and advice, best practices and know
how, the sharing of information, including the
provision of advice and a structured process of approximation to EU acquis, support to capacity-building and institutional strengthening.  In
this context, Ukraine is to make full use of the role of the EU Advisory
Mission for Civilian Security Sector Reform as part of the overall EU
contribution to the reform process. It will also encourage and seek
coordination of support from other partners of Ukraine. The relevant EU
financial instruments will also be available to help in the implementation of
the Association Agenda. Notwithstanding this, the latter is not in itself a
financial programming document and does not substitute for the programming or
formulation exercises undertaken by the Parties.

EU support will
be provided in the context of the overall priorities for assistance in favour
of Ukraine, as outlined in the multi-year programming under the European
Neighbourhood Instrument (ENI) as part of the overall funding available for
Ukraine and in full respect of the relevant implementation rules and procedures
of EU external assistance.

In the period
2007 - 2013, the EU committed EUR 1.0056 billion for bilateral assistance to
Ukraine, focusing mainly on Support for democratic development and good
governance, Support for regulatory reform and administrative capacity building,
Support for infrastructure development (National Indicative Programme
2007-2010) and on Good governance and the rule of law, Facilitation of the
entry into force of the EU-Ukraine Association Agreement including DCFTA,
Sustainable development (National Indicative Programme 2011-2013). Several
project funded under this framework are still under implementation.

The indicative
financial allocation for bilateral assistance to Ukraine in the period
2014-2020 is between EUR 828 million to EUR 1.013 billion. As the other ENI
countries, Ukraine can also benefit from additional allocations from the
umbrella programme.

In 2014, in
response to the fast moving events in Ukraine and the urgent need to mobilise
considerable assistance to contribute to the stabilisation and development of
the country, the EU adopted a EUR 365 million Special Measure, including a EUR
355 million State Building Contract and a EUR 10 million support programme to
civil society.

For 2015, a possible Special Measure could focus on private
sector development and recovery actions. EU bilateral assistance should be
included in the Single Support Framework (SSF) as a/the
result of the forthcoming multi-annual programming exercise for the period
2016-2017, depending on the situation on the ground.

Civil society, in particular the EU-Ukraine Civil Society
Platform, as well as the Parliamentary Association
Committee, will also be
encouraged to focus their monitoring activities on the Association Agenda. This
Association Agenda may be amended or updated at any time as necessary by
agreement of the EU-Ukraine Association Council.

III.         Operational part

1.           Short-term Priorities for
Action

The Association Committee as set
up by the Association Agreement will define priorities for action and provide
guidance for the implementation of the Association Agenda in line with the
provisions set up in section III 8 below.

Among the priorities in the
Association Agenda, the following short-term reform actions should be addressed
as a matter of priority:

· 
Constitutional reform

Re-start constitutional reform through an
inclusive and participatory process including active consultations with civil
society and in line with the Venice Commission recommendations, including
legislative steps towards amending the constitution, enabling decentralisation
reform and the reform of the judiciary;

· 
Election reform

Take steps towards harmonisation of electoral
legislation through its unification and reform of political party financing,
including state financing. This should be prepared through an inclusive and
participatory process in line with the OSCE/ODIHR, GRECO and Venice Commission
recommendations, with a first priority given to revision of the law on local
elections in view of local elections planned for second half of 2015;

· 
Preventing and combating Corruption

Demonstrate serious progress in the fight
against corruption, including through the implementation of the comprehensive
anti-corruption legal package adopted on 14 October 2014, starting with the
setting up and ensuring effective functioning of both the National
Anti-Corruption Bureau and the National Agency for the Prevention of
corruption;

· 
Judicial reform

Take further steps on judicial reform, in
particular by adopting, in line with European standards and in close
consultation with the Council of Europe/ Venice Commission, a Justice Reform
Strategy including a detailed, comprehensive implementation plan;

· 
Public administration reform

Start a comprehensive reform of the public
administration, and in particular the civil service and service in local
self-government bodies focusing on European principles of public
administration, including through the finalisation and adoption of the draft
Law on Civil Service Reform;

· 
Deregulation

Reduce the regulatory burden for business and
in particular of SMEs, through reduction of the number of permits and licences;

· 
Public procurement reform

Improve transparency and competitiveness in
public procurement. Bring the list of exceptions from the sphere of public
procurement in line with the EU public procurement directives. Ensuring
competitive procurement and access to information related to public
procurement, in particular by public enterprises;

· 
Taxation reform, including VAT refunds

Take steps to improve the efficiency of the tax
administration, including when dealing with VAT refund claims, to ensure timely
settlement of all recognised VAT refund claims, avoiding any form of
discrimination;

· 
External audit

Based on recent reforms, continue to develop
the external audit function to strengthen the system of checks and balances;

· 
Energy Sector Reform

In line with the Third Energy Package,
accelerate the unbundling and restructuring of Naftogaz, adopt the law on the
new regulatory body for gas, electricity and utilities and submit, for
consultation with the EU side, draft
laws on the gas and electricity market.

2.           Political Dialogue

2.1         Democracy, rule of law,
human rights and fundamental freedoms

The Parties agree to maintain
dialogue and to cooperate to strengthen respect for democratic principles, the
rule of law and good governance, human rights and fundamental freedoms,
including the rights of persons belonging to national minorities as enshrined
in the core UN and Council of Europe Conventions and related protocols. Such
dialogue and cooperation shall cover the following areas:

(i.)          Strengthen the stability,
independence and effectiveness of institutions guaranteeing democracy and the
rule of law and in particular:

· 
conducting and completing an inclusive and
transparent constitutional reform process, including active consultations with
civil society and other stakeholders,  designed to further develop a constitutional
system of effective checks and balances between state institutions, as well as
to enable the decentralisation reform and the reform of judiciary, in the light
of the relevant recommendations of the Venice Commission;

· 
strengthening of the functioning of local and
regional self-government, and legal status of the service in local
self-government bodies, including through a decentralisation reform devolving
substantial competences and related financial allocations to them, in line with
the relevant standards contained in the European Charter on Local
Self-Government;

· 
improvement and harmonisation of all electoral
legislation through its unification, improvement of other election-related 
legislation, notably laws on referenda and on the Central Election Commission
and of legislation on political party financing (including on state financing)
through an inclusive and participatory process in line with OSCE/ODIHR, Venice
Commission and GRECO recommendations;

· 
work closely together in aligning the legal framework
of Ukraine's civil service with European principles of public administration
and enhancing the capacity of the public administration in Ukraine on the basis
of an assessment by SIGMA, including effective public finance management,
effective fight against corruption and public service reform;

· 
helping to ensure the full achievement of the
Ombudsperson’s mandate, including implementation of his/her action in the
regions and promoting his/her cooperation with European Human Rights
institutions and networks . The Principles relating to the status of national
institutions (the Paris Principles)[4]
will be relevant for this priority.

(ii.)         Ensure the independence,
impartiality, professionalism and efficiency, of the judiciary, of the
prosecution as well as of law enforcement agencies, which should be free from
corruption and political or any other undue interference:

· 
taking additional steps on judicial reform, in
particular by adopting, in line with European standards and in close
consultation with the Council of Europe/ Venice Commission, a Justice Reform
Strategy including a detailed, comprehensive implementation plan, in particular
with a view to:

– 
implement the Law of Ukraine “On Public
prosecution” and to take all necessary organizational and legal measures to
ensure compliance of the prosecutorial activity with the European standards;

– 
ensure the effective functioning of the High
Council of Justice;

– 
adopt and implement the laws on the Judicial
System and the Status of Judges;

· 
taking relevant actions on reform of the Police,
including amendments to the Criminal Code and other legislative acts related to
the adoption of framework legislation on the functioning of police, in close
consultation with the Council of Europe/ Venice Commission enhancing the training
of judges, court officials and prosecutors as well as support staff and law
enforcement agencies staff;

· 
effective implementation and enforcement of the
civil, criminal, economic and administrative codes and their corresponding
procedural codes, based on European standards;

· 
providing the necessary resources to implement
effectively the Criminal Procedure Code and the legislation on the Bar;

· 
developing and conducting civilian security
sector reform based on the rule of law, democratic governance, accountability
and respect for human rights, with the assistance of and in full interaction
with the EU Advisory Mission to Ukraine (EUAM), inter alia by developing an
accessible, accountable, efficient, transparent and professional police force,
introducing a rights-based approach to policing, the use of intelligence-led
policing, and fighting crime, including cybercrime.

(iii.)        Ensure
respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms by comprehensive cooperation
on the protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms, covering both
individual cases and issues concerning international law instruments on human
rights. This cooperation includes, inter alia:

· 
adoption and implementation of a National Human
Rights Strategy and Action Plan to ensure coherence of Ukraine' s actions in
addressing its international commitments and policy priorities in the area of
on human rights.

(a.)         Promoting the implementation
of international and regional human rights standards

· 
early implementation of all judgments of the
European Court of Human Rights and promoting the evolving jurisprudence of the
Court as a major source of international human rights law, with the support of
the EU, as well as strengthening of the preventive and supervisory functions of
the Government Agent for the European Court of Human Rights to ensure the
effective implementation of the judgments of this Court;

· 
implementing the recommendations of the Council
of Europe related to detention conditions and medical assistance to persons in
detention;

· 
promoting human rights awareness among judges,
prosecutors and other law enforcement agencies by common measures on enhancing
trainings of judges, prosecutors and law enforcement officers on human rights
issues and in particular on combating torture and inhuman and degrading
treatment;

· 
continue implementing the UN Convention on the
Rights of Persons with Disabilities and its Optional Protocol;

· 
ensure the full application of the legislative
framework on anti-discrimination on all grounds, including implementation of
the Anti-Discrimination Law and strengthen the capacity of the Ombudsman in
line with the progress reports on the Visa Liberalisation Action Plan.

(b.)         Freedom of Expression,
Assembly and Association

Expression:

Promoting the legal and administrative framework
necessary for the enjoyment of freedom of expression with a particular emphasis
upon the mass media and the rights of journalists, notably by:

· 
cooperating on the development and
implementation of a system of public broadcasting, including by exchange of
best practices, the adoption of a legislative framework and its implementation
in accordance with European and international standards;

· 
taking further steps to establish clear rules
for balanced media access for electoral competitors;

·

· 
cooperating to preserve the conditions necessary
for journalists to work freely and shielded from threats or actual violence.
This will include the exchange of best practices on effective protection of
journalists by law enforcement agencies.

· 
Assembly:

· 
taking concrete actions towards adoption and
full implementation of legislation for freedom of peaceful assembly in close
cooperation with the Ukrainian civil society, OSCE-ODIHR and the Venice
Commission and in line with best European practices;

· 
step up cooperation to further strengthen the
awareness of law enforcement agencies and the courts as regards respect for the
right to freedom of peaceful assembly, notably by the exchange of best
practices, training and cooperation on implementing rules of legislation.

Association:

Establishing favourable legal and institutional
conditions for civil society institutions, notably to promote the involvement
of citizens and their participation in public decision-shaping processes:

(c.)         Ensuring respect for the
rights of persons belonging to minorities

· 
exchanging best practices on measures to protect
minorities from discrimination and exclusion in accordance with European and
international standards, with the objective of developing a modern legal
framework. Developing close cooperation between the authorities and
representatives of minority groups;

· 
cooperate on measures to combat the growth in
intolerance and the incidence of hate crimes (whether due to racism,
homophobia, xenophobia or anti-Semitism).

(d.)         Combating torture and inhuman
and degrading treatment

· 
further strengthening of efforts to improve the
legal basis and practice in the area of detention, in particular as regards
pre-trial and administrative detention in order to address effectively the
issue of arbitrary detention;

· 
improve the conditions of detention for all
prisoners whether in pre-trial detention or after conviction, as well as while
escorting, with the aim of eliminating ill-treatment and implement the
recommendations of the UN Committee against Torture and the European Committee
for the Prevention of Torture;

· 
providing the necessary resources to implement
effectively the National Preventive Mechanism against Torture;

· 
establish an effective complaints mechanism on
the actions of law enforcement officials and their investigation by an
independent body (State Bureau of Investigation).

(e.)         Ensuring Equal Treatment

· 
exchange best practices to ensure the equality
of men and women in social and economic life and promote the greater
participation of women in public life and decision-making;

· 
combat domestic violence by supporting the
strengthening of the legislative framework and practices of the law enforcement
agencies regarding domestic violence and through awareness raising and
training.

(f.)          Ensuring
respect for Children’s Rights

· 
implement measures to protect children against
all forms of violence and address the situation of vulnerable children and
children's poverty, including the measures in the context of the commitments
under the Optional Protocol on the Sale of Children, Child Prostitution and
Child Pornography in order to strengthen cooperation on preventing the sale,
trafficking and exploitation of children;

· 
provide adequate resources and strengthen the
role of  the Ombudsman to undertake the necessary measure and monitor the
situation;

· 
developing juvenile justice standards in line
with relevant international standards.

(g.)         Ensuring Respect for Trade
Union Rights and Core Labour Standards

· 
further strengthen efforts, including through
exchanges of best practices, to promote the full enjoyment of trade union
rights and core labour standards based on International Labour Organization
Conventions, and promote the effective use of collective bargaining.

2.2.        Preventing and
combating Corruption

· 
implement the relevant recommendations of the
Council of Europe Group against Corruption (GRECO) and OECD;

· 
ensure adequate follow-up on the recommendations
on combating corruption outlined in Progress Reports on the implementation of
the Action Plan on Visa Liberalisation;

· 
engage in a comprehensive anti-corruption reform
process with tangible results in the prevention and fight against corruption
with clear responsibilities allocated to specialized bodies and allocated
budget for the implementation of particular actions;

· 
ensure the implementation of the anti-corruption
laws adopted on 14 October 2014, in particular the swift and efficient setting
up of both Agencies foreseen under the Anti-corruption legislation and the
development of a comprehensive implementation plan for the 2014-2017 National
Anti-corruption Strategy;

· 
ensure the efficient functioning of the
Anti-corruption Bureau as a specialised anti-corruption investigative agency
for detection and pre-trial investigation of serious corruption crime;

· 
address the prevention and fight against
corruption at all levels of society, especially high-level corruption, in law
enforcement bodies, customs, and tax-systems, and the transparency of funding
through the development of ethical codes and specialized training;

· 
implement legislation which introduces a new
regime of confiscation and seizure of proceeds of crime in line with European
standards;

· 
ensure transparency with regards to declaration
of assets and implementation of a  system for transparency and verification of
politicians and public officials assets;

· 
ensure the disclosure of information on final beneficiaries of legal
entities and on
registered rights to immovable property and their encumbrances contained in the
State Register of rights to immovable property;

· 
envisage the protection of whistle blowers and
ensure adequate protection against  adverse effects;

· 
take necessary steps for the conclusion of the
Agreement on cooperation with Eurojust as initialled on 8 December 2011, and
the Agreement on operational cooperation with Europol;

· 
ensure transparency and accountability at all
levels, creating the conditions for civil society actors and independent media
to monitor corruption;

· 
reform the rules on political party financing in
line with GRECO recommendations and immunity removal procedures of members of
parliament from criminal investigations.

2.3.        Foreign and Security
Policy

Regional and international issues,
cooperation on foreign and security policy, WMD non-proliferation and
disarmament, conflict prevention and crisis management

(i.)          Enhancing the cooperation
within the CFSP area:

· 
consult and coordinate on actions taken at
bilateral and multilateral levels in the framework of international efforts
with the joint aim of finding a sustainable political solution to the situation
in some regions of Donetsk and Luhansk Oblasts of Ukraine, caused by the
illegal activities of the Russian Federation;

· 
support the work of the OSCE Special Monitoring
Mission, the OSCE Observer Mission and any other OSCE mission with a view to
support cease-fire and border monitoring.

(ii.)         Further strengthen
convergence on regional and international issues, conflict prevention and
crisis management; work jointly to make multilateral institutions and
conventions more effective, so as to reinforce global governance, strengthen
coordination in combating security threats and address development related
issues:

· 
intensify consultations and coordination through
available diplomatic and military channels to address international issues of
common concern, including and especially challenges to commonly shared
principles of international peace and security, as established by the UN
Charter, the OSCE Helsinki Final Act and other relevant multilateral
documents, also in view of Ukraine’s practice of aligning with EU CFSP
declarations and common positions;

· 
continue dialogue on implementation of the
European Security Strategy;

· 
continue regular EU–Ukraine consultations on crisis
management;

· 
continue the practice of jointly identifying
opportunities for Ukraine to participate in current and future CSDP operations,
building on the good experience of Ukraine’s participation in EU operations in
the Balkans, as well as other EU operations (e.g. Atalanta);

· 
further implement “Seville” Arrangements for
Consultation and Co-operation between the EU and Ukraine in EU-led crisis
management operations, including continued participation of Ukraine in relevant
crisis management exercises and CSDP-related training activities;

· 
increase interoperability where appropriate
between Ukrainian peacekeeping units and EU Member States forces through
lessons learned from relevant EU crisis management operations to which Ukraine
participated, and through involvement of the units of the Armed Forces of
Ukraine into the formation of EU Multinational Tactical Battle Groups;

· 
Ukraine and the EU to enhance their joint
efforts within the 5+2 framework, with the aim of reaching a viable settlement
to the Transnistrian conflict in the Republic of Moldova;

· 
the EU and Ukraine to continue cooperation with
the Republic of Moldova on border issues, notably through EU-funded
interventions such as the EU Border Assistance Mission to Moldova and Ukraine
(EUBAM);

· 
continue consultations on sanctions applied by
the EU;

· 
explore further concrete ways of achieving
higher convergence in the field of foreign and security policy;

· 
take measures to foster military cooperation and
cooperation of technical character between the EU and Ukraine;

· 
encourage and facilitate direct cooperation on
concrete activities, jointly identified by both sides, between relevant
Ukrainian institutions and CFSP/CSDP agencies and bodies such as the European
Defence Agency, the European Union Institute for Security Studies, the European
Union Satellite Centre and the European Security and Defence College.

(iii.)        Further develop co-operation
in addressing common security threats, including combating terrorism,
non-proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and illegal arms exports:

· 
continue cooperation in the area of
non-proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, including on aspects related
to the national implementation of relevant international instruments, such as
CWC, BTWC and NPT, and export control regimes;

· 
further improve  of the national system of
export control, controlling of international transfers of WMD related goods,
including end use control on dual use goods, in light of the relevant EU
regulations, further cooperate on the development of national lists of dual-use
goods, controls over intangible transfer of technologies, enforcement of the
export control system, including prevention and sanctions against breaches of
export control legislation, and outreach to industry;

· 
continue cooperation in the fight against the
trafficking of nuclear materials;

· 
continue cooperation in achieving the objectives
of the G7 Global Partnership in all its aspects;

· 
cooperate in the enhancement of bio-security and
bio-safety standards in the laboratories, other facilities and during the
transport of dangerous bio-agents, in particular in light of the ongoing
dialogue on possible cooperation on bio-safety and bio-security;

· 
cooperate in enhancing the security of outer
space activities through confidence building measures, such as those proposed
by the EU draft Code of Conduct;

· 
further cooperate on arms exports in the light
of the content and principles of the Council Common Position 2008/944/CFSP
defining common rules governing the control of exports of military technology
and equipment and also in ratifying and implementing the Arms Trade Treaty
which was adopted at the UN General Assembly on 2 April 2013 and which entered
into force on 24 December 2014;

· 
further develop cooperation in the fight against
the illicit trafficking of SALW and their ammunition;

· 
jointly address threats for security, posed by
Ukrainian stockpiles of old ammunition, including anti-personnel land mines; implement project on the elimination of
anti-personnel land mines according to the provisions of the 1997 Convention on
the Prohibition of the Use, Stockpiling, Production and Transfer of
Anti-Personnel Mines and on their Destruction (Ottawa Convention), with the financial assistance of the EU.

2.4         International Criminal
Court

· 
enhance cooperation to promote peace,
international justice and fight impunity, including through the ratification
and implementation of the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court
(ICC) of 1998 and its related instruments.

3.           Co-operation
on Justice, Freedom and Security

3.1         Data protection

· 
support in strengthening a Ukrainian system of
Protection of Personal Data;

· 
implement the legislative framework and ensure a
high level of protection of personal data, in accordance with European
instruments and standards;

· 
strengthen the capacity of the data protection
authority (Ombudsman) and follow up on the application of data protection
standards in all sectors, especially regarding law enforcement.

3.2.        Legal Cooperation

· 
continue strengthening judicial cooperation in
civil and commercial matters by acceding to and implementing multilateral conventions
in particular the Conventions of the Hague Conference on Private International
Law in the field of international Legal Cooperation and Litigation' and
protection of children;

· 
continue strengthening judicial cooperation in
criminal matters by acceding to and implementing the relevant conventions,
especially those of the Council of Europe;

· 
take necessary steps for the conclusion of
Agreement on cooperation with Eurojust initialled on 8 December 2011.

3.3.        Cooperation on border
management, migration and asylum

(i.)          Border management

· 
further strengthen border management and
maintain the high level of border checks and border surveillance, and extend
and upgrade fixed-and mobile video surveillance facilities;

· 
improve efficiency of border control by implementing
common border checks and border surveillance, as well as operational exchange
of information in contact points;

· 
continue developing and implementing a common
risk analysis methodology, intelligence and data flow managements and improve
implementation based on risk analysis products;

· 
increase inter-agency cooperation and ensure
access of the State Border Guard Service to different databases containing
statistical data, as well to the INTERPOL databases;

· 
pursue cooperation on integrated border management
including with the comprehensive support of the EU, to be jointly defined;

· 
with the technical support of the EU, continue
the process of demarcation of Ukraine’s borders in accordance with
international standards in cooperation with the authorities of the respective
neighbouring countries as appropriate;

· 
intensify and enhance cooperation under the
existing working arrangements between the Ukrainian Border Guard Service and
Frontex, including in particular analysis and risk management;

· 
in the context of Ukraine’s continuing
cooperation with the Republic of Moldova on border issues, including the
effective exchange of information regarding flows of goods and people across
the common border, Ukraine and the European Union will maintain their collaboration
together with the Republic of Moldova in particular through technical
trilateral talks and with the support of the EU Border Assistance Mission
adapting Mission mandate to reflect the evolution of the needs of this
cooperation;

· 
ensure the development and implementation of the
next generation of Integrated Border Management Strategy (IBM) from 2016
onwards;

· 
implement logistic strategies to ensure the
adequate use of infrastructure, technical equipment, IT systems, financial and
human resources.

(ii.)         Migration:

· 
continue the effective implementation of the
EU-Ukraine Readmission agreement and measures for the reintegration of
Ukrainian citizens (returning voluntarily or readmitted);

· 
enforce the practical activities and measures
that will raise the effectiveness and the importance of the readmission
agreements in general;

· 
provide the financial and human resources for
the State Migration Service to implement necessary measures and tasks within
the legal framework for migration management;

· 
develop additional forms and modules of training
as well as training in foreign language training of the officials;

· 
strengthen interagency cooperation in the field
of migration and forms and mechanisms of cooperation should be developed and
established in all migration related issues;

· 
provision of adequate infrastructure (including
detention centres) and strengthening of responsible bodies to ensure effective
expulsion of illegally residing and/ or transiting third country nationals from
Ukraine territory;

· 
ensure respect for the human rights in
administrative detention and develop the integration framework.

3.4.        Asylum

· 
practical implementation of the 1951 UN
Convention relating to the status of refugees and i.a. its 1967 Protocol
including the right to seek asylum and respect for the principle of
"non-refoulement" and the 2000 UN Convention against Trans-national
Organised Crime with the aim of combating and preventing criminal activities,
organised or otherwise;

· 
ensure effective implementation of asylum
legislation, including provision of adequate infrastructure (including
temporary accommodation centres) and respect for fundamental rights of asylum
seekers and beneficiaries of international protection;

· 
streamline the decision-making process in the
asylum proceedings and strengthen the capacity of the responsible bodies, in
particular in the area of asylum procedures and reception of asylum seekers and
beneficiaries of international protection in order to ensure effective access
to their rights;

· 
ensure effective access to procedures and rights
for asylum seekers and beneficiaries of international protection, including
interpretation at border entry points, reception facilities and regional
offices where asylum proceedings are conducted;

· 
ensure ongoing training of professionals in the
area of asylum and migration, including judges and magistrates, government and
administration officials, police, state border guard service, psychologists,
social workers.

3.5.        Police cooperation,
organised crime and money laundering

(i.)          Police cooperation:

· 
strengthen international operational police
cooperation, including by setting up joint bi- or multilateral teams for (inter
alia) investigations, and strengthen cross-border cooperation by carrying out
joint operations.

(ii.)         Organised crime:

· 
ensure the implementation of the Strategy and
Action Plan to fight against organised crime including effective coordination
between relevant authorities;

· 
strengthen the protection of witnesses through
effective application of mechanisms envisaged by the legislation in force as
well as provisions on cooperation of former members of criminal groups with law
enforcement authorities, including discussing the issue as for setting up
specific programmes for subsidizing and rewarding their cooperation.

(iii.)        Trafficking of human beings:

· 
implementation of the State Targeted Social
Programme for Combating a trafficking in human beings, including effective
coordination between responsible bodies;

· 
ensure effective protection of victims of
trafficking and strengthen procedural rights through a system of a provision of
precautionary measures;

· 
ensure sufficient budget allocation for
assistance for campaigns on prevention and other awareness and advanced
training programmes for government personnel, including frontline officials;

· 
ensure prevention of trafficking, including by
reducing demand that fosters all forms of exploitation.

(iv.)        Tackling illicit drugs:

· 
pursue cooperation on adoption and implementing
the National Strategy of Ukraine on Drugs (until 2020) and relevant Action Plan
based on the principles of the EU DRUGS Strategy (2013-2020), particularly on
balanced approach to reduction of supply and demand of illegal drugs;

· 
provide financial allocation for measures
targeting the implementation of Strategy of the State Policy on Drugs;

· 
ensure implementation of relevant UN and Council
of Europe Conventions;

· 
ensure effective prevention and work towards
reducing the supply of, trafficking in and demand for illicit drugs;

· 
strengthen the investigation pursued through the
General Prosecutor Office, through training of police officers and undercover
agents;

· 
continue the cooperation on developing the
scientific base and independent drug monitoring system and the exchange of info
on new types of drugs with EMCDDA;

· 
to elaborate the possibilities for Ukraine to
participate in the REITOX drug monitoring network, organized by EMCDDA and to
develop the appropriate Road map to include Ukraine into the REITOX drug
monitoring network;

· 
to increase the capacity of drug monitoring
system in Ukraine as the independent body according to the EMCDDA requirements;

· 
pursue cooperation on fighting against
transnational organised crime including fight against trafficking in human
beings, fight against drugs, fight against money laundering, and cybercrime by
promoting effective internal and external coordination, cooperation, conducting
joint operations and exchanging statistical information, sharing best
practices.

(v.)         Money laundering:

· 
effective implementation of preventing and
combating money laundering and the financing of terrorism, in particular by:
implementing EU legislation in these areas; strengthening cooperation with the
Financial Action Task Force (FATF), the Council of Europe, in particular the
latter's Committee of Experts on the Evaluation of Anti-Money Laundering
Measures and the Financing of Terrorism (MONEYVAL), any other relevant
authorities in EU Member States;

· 
strengthening cooperation between the State
Financial Monitoring Service of Ukraine (SFMS) with the Financial Intelligence Units
(FIUs) and explore to that end the possibility of  connecting the SFMS of Ukraine to EU FIUs’ information exchange
platforms (currently FIU.Net) in order to increase cross-border information
exchange in the fight against money laundering and terrorist financing.

3.6         Visa facilitation and
liberalisation

· 
ensure full  implementation of the amended
Agreement between Ukraine and the EU on the Facilitation of the Issuance of
Visas and of the Agreement between Ukraine and the EC on the Readmission of
Persons;

· 
encourage the EU Member States to use the
flexibilities existing under the EU acquis to reduce or waive visa fees in
individual cases as to as well as to encourage issuing multiple-entry visas
with long term validity in line with the provisions of the Visa Facilitation
Agreement in force;

· 
actively pursue the visa dialogue with the aim
to establish a visa-free regime between the EU and Ukraine, on the basis of the
EU-Ukraine Action Plan on Visa Liberalisation, presented at the EU-Ukraine
Summit of 22 November 2010 and the Ukrainian National plan on its
implementation which was approved by the President of Ukraine on 22 April 2011.

3.7         Situation in Eastern
Ukraine and Crimea

· 
effective implementation of the Action Plan on
organising border control at Ukrainian-Russian border sector and at the
administrative line with Crimea;

· 
in view of the current
conflict, increase measures to build the capacity of
Ukrainian authorities both at central and regional level to (i) speed up
the registration of Internally Displaced People and enhance the coordination
for the swift delivery of emergency and longer term assistance to IDPs (ii)
adapt the legal and regulatory framework dealing with IDPs, humanitarian access
and assistance delivery (iii) ensure the prevention
and protection of vulnerable trafficked human beings, including children.

4.           Economic
cooperation

The Parties cooperate to support Ukraine in establishing
a fully functioning market economy and gradually approximating its policies to
the policies of the EU in accordance with the guiding principles of
macroeconomic stability, sound public finances, a robust financial system and
sustainable balance of payments, and in particular:

· 
develop Ukraine’s capacity in macro-economic
forecasts, inter alia by improving the methodology of elaboration of
development scenarios, and monitoring of economic processes, by improving the
quality of analysis of the factors of impact and by exchanging best practices;

· 
ensure the independence of the National Bank of
Ukraine in line with best EU practice, including with the support of EU
expertise, also from the European Central Bank;

· 
share the experience of the EU, including of the
ECB, in exchange rate and financial and banking sector regulation and
supervision policies, and help Ukraine develop and strengthen its capabilities
in those areas;

· 
strengthen the sustainability and governance of
public finances, by implementing fiscal and expenditure reforms and by
reinforcing the budgetary planning process, in particular by:

– 
exchanging information, experience, and best
practice  and taking other measures with a view to developing a medium-term
system for forecasting/planning and improving the accuracy of macroeconomic and
budgetary medium-term forecasting;

– 
exchanging information,
experience and best practice for streamlining and strengthening the process of
budgetary planning, execution and oversight, developing programme-based
budgeting and the possible introduction of fiscal rules including by
introducing limitations on the number of budgetary revisions.

– 
introducing measures to improve tax compliance
and reduce tax fraud;

– 
 improving the efficiency of the tax
administration, including when dealing with VAT refund claims;

– 
implementation of the National Public Financial
Management Strategy and related Action Plan approved by the Ukrainian
government in August 2013 with the joint support of the EU and OECD SIGMA,  and development of a 2015 Public
Expenditures and Financial Accountability (PEFA) assessment financed by World
Bank;

– 
ensure a sustainable pension system including by
exchange of best expertise from the EU and the EU Member States on pension
system reforms;

– 
exchanging information, experience on
enhancing public debt management and improving management in this field in line
with the EU best practices, including developing a medium-term strategy of debt management.

· 
reduce the involvement of the State in setting
prices and introducing procedures for full cost recovery in line with EU best
practices, in particular adjust utility tariffs while developing a social
safety net to protect the most vulnerable from the price increases;

· 
further develop open, competitive and
transparent privatisation rules and procedures and their implementation in line
with best EU practices;

· 
strengthen corporate governance, in particular
in state-owned enterprises, including restructuring of state-owned enterprises,
strengthening of public property management and reviewing the state subsidy
system.

5.           Trade
and trade related matters

In line with the need to continue the process of reforms and
modernisation in accordance with the Ukraine's international commitments,
adequate preparation for the implementation of Title IV of the Association
Agreement in due time will continue, accompanied by EU support as appropriate.
In view of these preparations and of the necessary improvement of the business
climate, the authorities of Ukraine will work in close consultation with the
business community at large.

5.1         Trade in goods

The Parties shall cooperate in preparing
the proper implementation in due time of the provisions “National Treatment and
Market Access for Goods” of the Association Agreement, in particular through
joint consultations, with a view to:

· 
develop a mechanism for defining an entry price
for worn clothing and other second hand items which are classified according to
the Ukrainian customs code 6309 00 00;

· 
identify mechanisms for implementing in due time
the specific measures to be applied by the Parties as set forth in the
Agreement, including:

– 
safeguard measures for export duty to be applied
by Ukraine;

– 
safeguard measures on passenger cars to be
applied by Ukraine;

– 
management of tariff quotas on specific goods.

5.2         Technical regulations
on industrial products, standards and conformity assessment procedures

· 
development of the Ukrainian legislation on
technical regulation, standardisation, conformity assessment, market
surveillance, metrology and accreditation concerning the provisions, regulating
circulation of industrial products in line with the EU acquis in order to
progressively remove trade barriers between the Parties;

· 
establish a bilateral dialogue on technical
regulations with a view to promote and encourage:

– 
the exchange of information and experience in
view to improving the quality infrastructure for technical regulations,
standards, conformity assessment, accreditation and market surveillance;

– 
the cooperation between their respective
organisations for standardisation, metrology, accreditation, conformity
assessment and market surveillance;

– 
the development of the quality infrastructure
for standardisation, metrology, accreditation, conformity assessment and market
surveillance;

– 
the participation of Ukraine organisations in
the work of related European organisations;

· 
take actions in line with the Strategy of
technical regulation system development until 2020.

5.3         Sanitary and
phytosanitary measures

In view of a gradual approximation
of the Ukrainian SPS food and feed, plant health as well as animal health, and
welfare legislation and practice to that of the European Union, the EU will
support Ukraine inter alia through the relevant available instruments, to
implement the corresponding institutional reform program (IRP)  and:

· 
develop a comprehensive food safety strategy
aiming to reform all measures laid down in annexes of the SPS Chapter of the
Association Agreement;

· 
 introduction of proposals to the Ukrainian
legislations remaining to be approximated;

· 
strengthen administrative capacity in these
areas by:

– 
reviewing the functions of the current state
governmental authorities responsible for the SPS matters considering the EU
legislation;

– 
training of specialists of the Ukrainian
competent authorities responsible for the SPS matters, in particular on the
implementation of approximated legislation;

– 
align the food safety, animal health and
phytosanitary laboratories with the EU requirements.

· 
set-up an early warning system for the food and
feed, animal health and plant health safety;

· 
support food business operators in implementing
own control systems;

· 
organize information campaigns with relevant
agencies and NGOs on the requirements accessing the EU market.

5.4         Trade in services,
freedom of establishment and investment

Continue the effective dialogue on
trade in services according to
provisions of the Association Agreement.

5.5         Capital movements and
payments

Continue the effective dialogue on
capital movements and payments, in particular with a view to monitoring
compliance with all existing commitments set out in the Association Agreement.

5.6         Public procurement

The Parties shall pay particular attention to
cooperation in taking the following measures:

· 
enhance and strengthen cooperation, including
through technical assistance, aimed at taking appropriate
measures in particular to ensure that the central government body responsible
for economic policy has
sufficient administrative capacity to fulfil its tasks related to public procurement;

· 
ensure that the independent review body
(Anti-Monopoly Committee) has sufficient administrative capacity to provide
effective remedies in line with Directive 89/665 and 92/13;

· 
begin preparation of the comprehensive roadmap
on public procurement set out by Article 152 of the Association Agreement,
making use of existing arrangement for technical assistance, including where
necessary through meetings at expert level;

· 
work towards further harmonisation of the
Ukrainian public procurement legislation with the latest EU acquis on the basis
of a strategy on public procurement.

5.7         Competition

(i.)     State aid:

The Parties shall cooperate in the
establishment of an effective system of State aid control and monitoring in
Ukraine and implement the corresponding institutional reform program (IRP).

(ii.)    Anti-trust:

The Parties will cooperate in
order to:

· 
enhance the transparency and predictability of
competition policy in Ukraine, including the publication of the decisions of
the Competition Authority within a reasonably short delay following their
adoption and of the principles used in implementation and enforcement of
competition laws;

· 
promote convergence of competition law and
practice in Ukraine to EU acquis, notably in the areas of merger control rules
and in the principles used in the implementation and enforcement of competition
laws;

· 
implement the provisions set out in the Competition
Chapter of the Association Agreement (DCFTA part).

5.8         Intellectual property

Strengthen cooperation on the
protection of the IPR by exchange of experience and organisation of joint
actions on the IPR issues as well as continue a dialogue on IPR issues in order
to:

· 
proper implement standards embedded in the
Enforcement Directive 2004/48/EC and the regulation No 608/2013 concerning
customs enforcement of intellectual property rights;

· 
take effective measures against counterfeiting
and piracy and ensure effective implementation of the enforcement legislation
and of sanctions for infringements of intellectual property rights on the basis
of an IPR enforcement strategy;

· 
strengthen coherent and comprehensive
enforcement capacity at public authorities level (administrative, judicial and
operational authorities), in particular increasing the enforcement resources
regarding internet piracy within the Ministry of Interior.

5.9         Customs and trade
facilitation

The Parties shall implement of the
Strategic Framework for EU-Ukraine Customs Cooperation in line with its Roadmap
2012-2014 which defines concrete priorities and activities. The Parties attach
importance to the following measures:

(i.)     Safe and fluid trade lanes:

· 
development of mutual transparent trade environment.
Ensure that relevant legislation and procedures, as well as the administrative
and operational capacity of the customs administration, fulfil the objectives
of effective control and support facilitation of legitimate trade as a matter
of principle, while ensuring security and preventing fraud; Border cooperation
between EU and Ukraine is one of the indicators of developing customs
relationship as it has immediate influence on traders, freight forwarders and
passengers;

· 
development by Ukraine of Authorized Economic
Operator system for trade facilitation with the prospect of mutual recognition;
the EU may provide adequate assistance upon request.

(ii.)    Risk management and fight against
fraud:

· 
cooperate on the implementation of modern
customs control techniques based in particular on selective, risk based
control, simplified procedures for release of goods and post clearance
controls; mutual familiarization with risk management systems of both sides may
take form of study trips or workshops;

· 
investigating the establishment of inter-agency
and international mechanisms (including on-line-based platforms) for exchange
of data, inter alia on goods and vehicles, in line with relevant data
protection standards and regulations in the framework of the working group set
up between EU and Eastern Neighbours;

· 
strengthening dialogue on the fight against
fraud to prevent and enforce illegal trade, including in excisable products, in
particular cigarettes, which may include exchanges of practical experience and
organization of joint actions.

(iii.)   Investment in
customs modernisation:

· 
elaborate and implement a comprehensive
strategic plan with EU support upon Ukraine's request for the Customs
administration, including structures, procedures, resources, IT support and
implementation plan. The EU Modernized Customs Blueprints may be used as a
benchmark;

· 
further development of the Ukrainian Customs
legislation and its implementing provisions in line with the international
instruments and standards applicable in the field of customs and trade
including those developed by the EU, World Customs Organisation, WTO, UN;

· 
cooperate in the implementation of an up-to-date
Harmonized System with a view to adopting the Combined Nomenclature and
ensuring proper and coherent classification of goods;

· 
ensure the highest standards of integrity at the
Customs administration, and in particular at the border, with the application
of measures reflecting the principles of the WCO Arusha Declaration;

· 
cooperate on the further development of customs
valuation procedures and practice in order to make them more transparent and
efficient, including through the exchange of best practices on the
implementation of WTO standards;

· 
take all necessary steps within the competence
of the Parties to facilitate future participation of Ukraine in both the
Working Group EU – EFTA and the EU/EFTA working group and ECG (Electronic
Customs Group) – NCTS;

· 
elaborate, with EU support upon Ukraine's
request, and implement a comprehensive strategic plan for the Customs
administration, to align its transit legislation, operational procedures, and
IT system on the EU/EFTA Conventions on a common transit procedure and the
simplification of formalities in trade in goods, with a view to ensuring the
future membership of Ukraine in the said Conventions and participation in the
common transit system; provide relevant assistance or twinning project to the
Ukrainian Customs administration on application of common transit and NCTS
system upon Ukrainian initiative;

· 
ensure ad hoc participation, taking into account
financial restrictions which exist in Ukrainian legislation, of Ukrainian
customs experts in the EU Customs 2020 Programme (Regulation No 1294/2013),
which requires changes in the national legislation as a next step, conclusion
of a bilateral agreement on the regular participation in the Programme once
Ukraine have reached a sufficient level of approximation of the relevant
legislation and administrative methods to those of the EU.

(iv.)   Rules of origin:

The Parties shall cooperate in preparing the proper
implementation of rules of origin to be applicable between the Parties, in
particular by:

· 
provide relevant assistance to the Ukrainian
Customs authority in the form of study visits or workshops on application of
rules of origin upon Ukrainian initiative;

· 
supporting Ukraine in preparation of the
comprehensive analysis regarding future accession to the pan-Euro-Med
Convention on rules of origin, which, by extending cumulation area, will create
new benefits to the Ukrainian economic operators;

· 
transferring responsibility for issuing EUR 1
certificates from the Ukrainian Chamber of Commerce to the Ukrainian Customs
authority;

· 
develop a mechanism to ensure effective application of the rules of origin to goods imported from the temporarily occupied
territory of Crimea;

· 
exchange best practice between customs
authorities on granting the status of approved exporter.

5.10       Trade and sustainable
development

The Parties will engage in a
dialogue on the issues covered by the Chapter on Trade and Sustainable
Development of the Association Agreement.

5.11       Transparency of regulations

The Parties shall pay special attention to
cooperation in following:

· 
ensuring compliance of the measures of general
application including internal regulations on the implementation of the
regulatory policy in the spheres covered by provisions of Title “Trade and trade related matters” of the Association Agreement with the
requirements of the principle of transparency;

· 
establishing a Contact point and a mechanism of
processing of requests of any persons concerned on any valid or proposed
measures of general application and on practice of such measures implementation
that can influence on issues under the Agreement.

5.12       Trade and Regulatory
Co-operation

The Parties shall pay special
attention to cooperation on further harmonization of Ukrainian legislation with
the EU acquis acts in the sphere of:

· 
distance selling advertising;

· 
ensuring the safety of food products and
informing consumers of products properties;

· 
implementation of the EU budgetary support
program in the sector of removal of technical barriers to trade (TBT).

6.           Energy co-operation
including nuclear issues

On the basis of the continued
implementation of the EU-Ukraine Memorandum of Understanding on energy
cooperation, and preparing for the implementation of the EU acquis mentioned in
the relevant annex of the Association Agreement, on the commitments of Ukraine
as a Contracting Party to the Energy Community Treaty and consistent with
relevant multilateral agreements, the Parties shall pay particular attention to
cooperation in taking the following steps:

6.1         Integration of Energy
Markets

· 
adopt a new Energy Strategy and Action Plan for
its implementation;

· 
implementation of the Third Energy Package as
per obligations under the Energy Community Treaty;

· 
further strengthening of the capacity and
independence of the National Energy and Utilities Regulation Commission (NEURC);

· 
continue reform of electricity tariff and gas
pricing and measures to ensure full payments for providing electricity and gas;

· 
continue to cooperate, in close cooperation with
the International Financial Institutions,  towards the full implementation of
the Joint Declaration of the investment conference on the rehabilitation and
modernisation of the Ukrainian gas transit network of 23 March 2009, in
particular the reform of the gas sector and restructuring of the state-owned
Naftogaz;

· 
cooperate efficiently on the implementation
of the  feasibility study on the integration of the united power system of
Ukraine into the Union of Central European electricity networks, in accordance
with the requirements of ENTSO-E (European Network of Transmission System
Operators for Electricity) and jointly analyse the costs and benefits to such integration
compared with possible alternatives to full synchronisation;

· 
provide EU expert assistance in elaborating the
legislation necessary for fulfilment of Ukraine’s obligations under the Energy
Community Treaty.

6.2         Energy
Security

· 
adopt and implement the measures to be
identified in a Government Action Plan on National Energy Contingency;

· 
implement the recommendations made in the EU
stress test report of October 2014;

· 
draft and implement a
decision on strategic oil stocks;

· 
support Ukraine in strengthening its energy
security.

6.3         Energy Efficiency,
Renewable Energy and Environmental Aspects

· 
implement the EU Directives in the area of
energy efficiency and renewable sources of energy under the Energy Community
Treaty and the decisions of the Council of Ministers of the Community Treaty;

· 
establish and adopt by the end of 2015 a National Emission Reduction Plan and
cooperate on the swift implementation of the plan in view of meeting the
obligations under the Energy Community Treaty and respective EU targets.

6.4         Coal Sector Reform

· 
implement recommendations from the Coal Sector
Reform programme, in view of phasing out subsidies to state owned mining sector
which are a heavy burden on the state budget while improving safety and
environmental standards and taking into account the social aspects.

6.5         Nuclear Safety

The Parties shall continue
cooperation on:

· 
projects related to the decommissioning of the
Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant and the Shelter Implementation Plan to restore
the Chernobyl site to an environmentally safe situation following the accident
which destroyed the 4th power unit (under the international fund managed by the
EBRD);

· 
projects under the Instrument for Nuclear Safety
Cooperation (INSC) supporting in particular the Nuclear Regulator and nuclear
waste management;

· 
implementation of actions in accordance with
“National Action Plan based on the results of the Stress-tests”, which was
developed following the stress-tests at Ukrainian NPPs and includes the
recommendations of ENSREG.

7.           Other sectorial issues

7.1         Public financial internal
control and external audit and control

The Parties shall cooperate with the aim to ensure the
development of public financial internal control and external audit by:

· 
ensuring further improvement of the internal
control system, including functionally independent internal audit, in state
authorities by means of harmonization with generally accepted international
standards and methodologies and EU best practice;

· 
ensuring implementation of the internationally
accepted external audit standards (International Organisation of Supreme Audit
Institutions) by the Supreme Audit Institution (Accounting Chamber);

· 
ensuring effective cooperation with the relevant
EU Institutions and bodies in the case of on-the-spot checks and inspections
related to the management and control of EU funds, to be provided in line with
relevant rules and procedures.

7.2         Taxation

Enhance and strengthen cooperation
aimed at the improvement and development of Ukraine's tax system and
administration, based on international and European standards, including
preparation for gradual approximation to the taxation structure as laid down in
the EU acquis set out in the relevant annex of the Association Agreement, in
particular by:

· 
improving and simplifying tax legislation
including;

· 
improving international tax cooperation in order
to enhance good governance in the tax area, as described in the Association
Agreement. In relation to fair tax competition, taking into account the
principles of the EU Code of Conduct for Business Taxation;

· 
improving capacity of the tax administration, in
particular by moving towards a more focused, risk based system for tax control
and audits;

· 
implementing a sustainable and swift solution to
the VAT refund backlog;

· 
taking measures to harmonise policies in
counteracting and fighting fraud and smuggling of excisable products.

7.3         Statistics

· 
prepare for implementation of EC statistical
compendium as annexed to the Association Agreement;

· 
improve the coordinating role of the SSSU in the
national statistical system through its appropriate and explicit reflection in
the statistical law, through the conclusion of Memoranda of Understanding with
the most important producers of official (state) statistics and introduction of
preparation of a coordinated statistical work programme containing all official
statistics;

· 
strengthen the professional independence of the
SSSU in compliance with the European Statistics Code of Practice;

· 
bring the Law of Ukraine "On State
Statistics" in compliance with the European requirements with regard to
the establishment of the National Statistical Council and the implementation
of the European Statistics Code of Practice;

· 
improve the dissemination of official (state)
statistics including the appropriate metadata to all users including
government, civil society, businesses, media and others through a modern and
integrated dissemination tools, in particular websites and user-friendly
databases etc.;

· 
enhance the quality of official (state)
statistics in cooperation with other data producers and data users, development
and implementation a quality assurance framework including the production and
publication of quality reports.

7.4         Transport

The Parties cooperate to support
Ukraine in, and to prepare for implementation of EU acquis mentioned in
relevant annexes of the Association Agreement:

(i.)     Transport:

· 
enhancing regulatory convergence of the EU
acquis into the national legislation across transport modes and strengthening
the capacity of the national authorities to implement and enforce the
legislation;

· 
further implementation of the national transport
strategy of Ukraine until 2020;

· 
preparing and implementing reforms in transport
sub-sectors (railways, maritime and inland waterways, road and air transport);

· 
improving the movement of
passengers and goods, increasing fluidity of transport flows between Ukraine,
the EU and third countries in the region, by removing obstacles
(administrative, technical, cross-border etc.), including those related to the
planning, implementation, operation and maintenance of transport
infrastructures, and simplification of the procedures of international trade;

· 
development of a national transport traffic flow
modelling system and of a programme for the implementation of the National
(Priority) Transport Network of Ukraine consistent with the Eastern partnership
transport network infrastructure and development of a pipeline of mature
projects;

· 
development of intermodal
and multimodal services through an efficient logistic system, and allowing
solutions relating to the interoperability of different track gauge and other
technical standards;

· 
update of the national strategy and programme
for improving road safety and continue the implementation of actions.

(ii.)    Aviation:

· 
signing of the Common Aviation Area Agreement in
the course of 2015 and in concluding it in due time;

· 
pursuing activities to align the legislation of
Ukraine in the field of aviation with the EU legislation;

· 
implementation of  EU requirements and standards
in the fields of aviation on the basis of the Common Aviation Area Agreement
after its signing in 2015
and strengthening the administrative capacity of
the aviation authorities;

· 
sustaining and further developing cooperation
with EASA on EU aviation safety issues, including on the issues of convergence
of the Ukrainian airworthiness certification system with the one of the EU.

7.5         Environment and climate
change

The Parties cooperate to support
Ukraine in, and to prepare for implementation of the EU acquis mentioned in
relevant annexes of the Association Agreement:

· 
implementation by Ukraine of primary objectives
(strategy) of the National Environment Strategy for the period till 2020 and
the National Environment Action Plan for 2011-2015;

· 
strengthening of the administrative capacity at
national, regional and local levels, including through development of effective
inspection and enforcement capacities;

· 
further development and implementation of
Ukrainian environmental legislation, strategies and plans,
in particular on environmental impact assessment, strategic environmental
assessment, access to environmental information, and public participation,
notably related to the Espoo and the Aarhus Conventions;

· 
closing legislative gaps in national law and
development of national implementation instruments in line with multilateral
environment agreements signed and ratified by Ukraine and the EU;

· 
strengthening the dialogue within the Joint
EU-Ukraine Working Group on Climate Change on contributing to and signing a new
global agreement on climate change, and on the development and implementation
of a policy on climate change, in particular through a domestic emissions
trading system and an action plan with long term measures, to mitigate and
adapt to climate change;

· 
promoting sustainable development and greening
of the economy, intern alia by implementing measures related to waste
management, green public procurement, and by introducing resource efficiency
principles and solutions;

· 
development of the Network of Protected Areas in
Ukraine, based on the principles of the NATURA 2000 Network;

· 
improving the efficiency of measures to protect
the ozone layer and to protect the environment by reducing emissions of
fluorinated greenhouse gases;

· 
working together to implement the roadmaps for
achieving the water-related Millennium Development Goals and Integrated Water
Resources Management targets, using the national policy dialogue under the EU
Water Initiative and supported by the approximation and implementation of the
EU water legislation;

· 
promoting the implementation of the Bucharest
Convention and its Protocols, including the cooperation with riparian countries
on implementation of the  Marine Strategic Framework Directive, and working
together with the Parties of this Convention to promote the accession of the
European Union to the Convention;

· 
working on establishing the Shared Environmental
Information System in the framework of Eastern Partnership;

· 
continue close cooperation with the Regional
Environmental Center for Central and Eastern Europe, in particular respective
work on establishment of REC office in Ukraine,  inter alia to raise
environmental awareness and promote the role of the civil society on
environmental matters.

7.6         Civil Protection

The Parties cooperate to support Ukraine
to:

· 
strengthen the dialogue and reinforce the
capacity on the prevention of, preparation for and response to natural and
man-made disasters and to implement the Administrative Arrangement on
cooperation in the field of Civil Protection between Ukraine and the European
Commission by establishing and implementing bi-annual Work Plans;

· 
progress with the development of a country-wide
disaster risk assessment and mapping, and to advance the extension of the
European early warning systems and monitoring tools to Ukraine;

· 
work towards the development of strategy for
industrial risks reduction and prevention of man-made disasters, and to explore
funding opportunities for its implementation;

· 
progress with the implementation of the
"Hyogo Framework for Action: Building the Resilience of Nations and
Communities to Disasters".

7.7         Industrial and enterprise
policy

The Parties shall develop and strengthen their cooperation on
industrial and enterprise policy, thereby improving the business environment
for all economic operators, with particular emphasis on Small and Medium Sized
Enterprises (SMEs). The Parties will cooperate on the implementation of an SME
policy based on the ten principles of the Small Business Act for Europe (SBA)
and EU best practices and maintain a regular dialogue on industrial and enterprise policy, in particular through:

· 
establishing a dedicated SME bilateral dialogue,
with close involvement of both government and business associations’
representatives, to exchange best practices with the objective to align the
Ukrainian policies with EU legislation as well as to streamline SME friendly
policies in recent Ukrainian legislation through application of the Think Small
First Principle and the SME Test. The involvement in EU programmes would also
be discussed in the context of the dialogue.

Additionally, within the framework of the SME Panel of the Eastern
Partnership, the Parties will:

· 
cooperate to ensure the implementation of the
recommendations outlined in the first SBA assessment “SME Policy Index: Eastern
Partner Countries 2012 – Progress in the Implementation of the Small Business
Act for Europe” undertaken by the OECD in cooperation with the European
Commission, the European Training Foundation and the EBRD;

· 
cooperate on the second round of the SBA
Assessment and use the assessment process as an opportunity to highlight the
essential role of SMEs to improve the business environment in Ukraine;

· 
continue their cooperation within the framework
of the implementation project of the SBA Assessment (“Eastern Partnership SME
Competitiveness Strategies Phase II”) to improve the business environment in
Ukraine;

· 
continue cooperation to facilitate the
participation of Ukraine in the Programme for the Competitiveness of
Enterprises and SMEs (COSME).

7.8         Company law, corporate
governance, accounting and auditing

The Parties shall enhance their co-operation in all areas of company
law corporate governance and accounting and auditing issues through exchanging
experience and information about their best practice and their current
regulatory frameworks and in particular:

· 
prepare for implementation of EU acquis
mentioned in relevant annexes of the Association Agreement through progressive
approximation of Ukraine company law legislation with the EU company law acquis;

· 
by the development of administrative capacity of
relevant state institutions;

· 
improve functioning of company law through
constant review, modernisation of relevant legislation and its application,
including in particular the Joint Stock Company Law;

· 
simplify rules and procedures on registration of
legal persons, including companies, and natural persons, including
entrepreneurs, to set up and liquidate business;

· 
develop further corporate governance policy and
promote compliance with the code on corporate governance in line with
international standards as well as gradual approximation with the EU rules and
recommendations in this area;

· 
introduce relevant international auditing
standards at national level;

· 
promote the application of international accounting
standards by all listed companies at national level, notably by introducing a
mechanism to this end.

7.9         Financial services

The Parties shall:

· 
prepare for implementation of the EU acquis in
the relevant financial services areas as determined in the Association
Agreement through gradual and progressive approximation, on the basis of an
updated list of legislation currently in force, before the relevant annexes of
the Association Agreement can be updated officially; ;

· 
cooperate to ensure the effective implementation
of a prudential regulatory frame-work  and supervision equivalent to that
existing in the EU for financial markets and activities ;

· 
cooperate to improve the administrative capacity
of supervisory authorities in accordance with internationally
recognised standards;

· 
encourage cooperation between Ukraine and EU
supervisors, especially regarding exchange and disclosure of information;

· 
develop national legislation on prevention and
counteraction against money-laundering and financing terrorism, in particular
by implementing the FATF Standards as well as the relevant EU anti-money
laundering and combating the financing of terrorism legislation;

· 
continue organising joint seminars, conferences,
trainings, workshops and study visits on counteraction against money-laundering
and terrorist financing as well as inviting Ukrainian experts to relevant EU
events.

7.10       Information society

The Parties cooperate to support
Ukraine in, and to prepare for implementation of EU acquis mentioned in
relevant annexes of the Association Agreement, in particular by:

· 
Ukraine to further work towards the
approximation of the legislation in the field of electronic communications with
the EU acquis;

· 
strengthening of the independence and
administrative capacity of the national regulator in the field of
communications, in order to ensure its ability to take appropriate regulatory
measures and enforce its own decisions and all applicable regulations and to
guarantee fair competition in the markets;

· 
developing and implementing the national
Information Society / Digital Market strategies and elaborating the appropriate
legislation, including the promotion of the broadband access, strengthening of
the networks security and promoting the use of ICT for growth and jobs in the economy,
in line with EU norms.

7.11       Tourism

The Parties will establish a
regular dialogue on the issues covered by the Chapter on tourism of the
Association Agreement. Within the framework of participation of Ukraine in the
Programme for the Competitiveness of Enterprises and SMEs (COSME), specific
actions will be implemented also on tourism, by focusing on the enhancement of
the competitiveness and sustainable growth of the sector.

7.12       Agriculture and rural
development

The Parties cooperate to support Ukraine
in, and to prepare for implementation of EU acquis mentioned in relevant
annexes of the Association Agreement, in particular through enhanced activities
of the established agricultural dialogue, in particular by:

· 
developing and implementing a new Action Plan
aiming at bringing the sector closer to EC policies and legislation on
agricultural policy and rural development;

· 
facilitate the development of an open and
transparent agricultural land market to increase productivity and stability in
the investment environment;

· 
increase cooperation on scientific studies and
exchange of best practices for the use of biotechnologies in agriculture;

· 
training of central and local administrations on
new models of rural development policies for further implementation of
programmes for rural communities;

· 
exchange best practices on the renewal and
preservation of natural resources in order to ensure efficient, sustainable and
high quality agricultural production;

· 
exchange best practices on the sustainable
agricultural production of renewable energy resources and their use, including
in agriculture;

· 
studying EU experience on transition towards
providing direct support to agricultural producers;

· 
improving the competitiveness of agricultural
production, including by cooperation on the implementation of quality schemes.

7.13       Fisheries and maritime
policy

· 
reinforce cooperation and work together towards
sustainable fisheries in the Black Sea, both in bilateral and multilateral
frameworks on the basis of an ecosystem approach to fisheries management;

· 
increase scientific and technical co-operation
with a view to ensure the capacity of monitoring fisheries and evaluating the
state of the stocks of marine resources and of marine environment;

· 
promote an integrated approach to maritime
affairs and ensure an exchange of best practices thereto, by strengthening
bilateral dialogue and by identifying areas of mutual interest and benefit for
future Black Sea cooperation in the context of the EU's Integrated Maritime
Policy (Blue Growth Strategy).

7.14       Science, technology and
innovations

The Parties shall cooperate in:

· 
strengthening cooperation in research and
innovation notably through an effective association of Ukraine to the Horizon
2020 programme and a possible association to the Euratom programme
complementing it, strengthening
the institutional support related to such programme association in order to
maximize its impact;

· 
ensuring exchange of best practices regarding
the organisation and implementation of research and innovation policies as well
as the management and review of related programmes and flagship initiatives;

· 
support the reinforcement of Ukrainian
capacities in the research and innovation domain, notably in improving the
framework conditions for facilitating research-industry partnerships and the
market exploitation of research results;

· 
intensifying implementation
of the provisions of the Agreement for
scientific and technological cooperation between Ukraine and the EU.

7.15       Space

The Parties will cooperate on the issues covered by the
Chapter on space of the Association Agreement, including participation in the
EGNOS extension project and HORIZON 2020 Framework Programme.

7.16       Consumer
protection

In view of the preparation for the implementation of the
EU acquis mentioned in relevant annexes of the Association Agreement, the
parties cooperate in order to:

· 
exchange information and initiate a dialogue on
consumer protection. The Parties may explore the possibility to further
cooperate on subjects of mutual interest;

· 
encourage the empowerment of consumers;

· 
strengthen administrative capacity of consumer
protection enforcement in Ukraine, notably through training and technical
assistance in the framework of TAIEX programme for the Ukrainian Public
Administration, including the Judiciary and the Legislative branch and civil
society organizations on the transposition of EU legislation and its subsequent
implementation and enforcement.

7.17       Social co-operation

The Parties cooperate in order to:

· 
prepare for the implementation of the EU acquis
in the areas of gender equality, anti-discrimination, health and safety at
work, labour law and working conditions mentioned in relevant annexes of the
Association Agreement, and in particular:

– 
strengthen administrative and enforcement capacities
in the area of health and safety at work, and labour law, of labour
inspectorates and in particular of the state authority bodies dealing with the
labour safety and health protection issues and public establishments
responsible for labour safety;

– 
enhance practical measures in the area of gender
equality with the aim of reducing the gender pay gap as well as in the area of
anti-discrimination;

– 
learning best practices and experience on
effective public administration of health protection at work;

· 
develop a strategic approach to employment in
order to ensure:

– 
better matching skills and jobs on the Ukrainian
labour market and its efficiency;

– 
strengthening capacity of administration in
charge of employment policy including of public employment services;

– 
promoting decent work and the transformation of
the informal sector into formal work and implementing the decent work country
programmes between the ILO and Ukraine;

– 
promoting anti-discrimination and ensuring equal
opportunities, in particular for people with disabilities, notably in the
context of employment.

· 
exchange best practices in improving the
effectiveness of social protection, with a view to enhancing both its social
adequacy and financial sustainability and to significantly reduce the number of
poor and vulnerable people;

· 
encourage both tripartite and bipartite social
dialogue and the capacity building of social partners, including in the
framework of TAIEX;

· 
promote the conclusion of agreements between
Ukraine and EU Member States on the coordination of social security for workers
of Ukrainian nationality legally employed in EU Member States;

· 
exchange of best practices as regards the
provision of social services with a view to encouraging synergies between
public and private partners in this sector in Ukraine.

7.18       Public Health

The Parties will cooperate in:

· 
implementing health sector reform;

· 
strengthening capacity  in health governance, particularly in the field of public health;

· 
preparing for the implementation of EU health
acquis, especially those mentioned in the relevant annexes of the Association
Agreement, including on tobacco, blood tissues and cells, communicable
diseases;

· 
preventing of non-communicable diseases through
health education and promotion of healthy lifestyle, and through actions
addressing major health determinants and problems, such as mother and child
health, mental health, addiction to alcohol, drugs and tobacco as well as
through strengthening civil society involvement;

· 
preventing and controlling of communicable diseases
in particular HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, sexually transmitted infections, and
hepatitis C and B including through cooperation with the European Centre for
Disease Prevention and Control;

· 
developing gradually a policy and regulatory
dialogue on medical products;

· 
exchanging evidence on good practice for addressing risk factors such
as tobacco use and passive smoking through the
implementation of the Framework Convention for Tobacco Control;

· 
capacity building
against cross-border health threats by implementing of the International
Health Regulations, including the development of preparedness and response
planning as well as training;

· 
participating in the EU public health related
networks and working parties such as the HIV/AIDS Think Tank and the HIV/AIDS Civil
Society Forum;

· 
introducing innovations in public health and
fostering e-health.

7.19       Education, training and
youth

The Parties shall cooperate in:

· 
supporting the reform and modernisation of
higher education, in particularly implementation of the new Law «On
Higher Education» with an aim of further integration into the European Higher
Education Area;

· 
carrying out joint work and exchanges on quality
assurance, with a view to promoting the implementation of international
assessment criteria and monitoring practices; on the development of university
autonomy; and on the professionalization of higher education management;

· 
raising awareness and promoting Ukraine's
participation in EU programmes in the field of education such as Erasmus+ and
Marie Sklodowska Curie for research training and mobility;

· 
working towards mutual academic and professional
recognition of qualifications, diplomas and certificates on education;

· 
carrying out joint work and exchanges with a
view to introducing in Ukraine the National Qualification Framework and its
further alignment with the European Qualification Framework;

· 
carrying out joint work and exchanges with a
view to supporting Ukraine to bring its system of vocational training more
closely in line with the modernisation of EU VET structures as pursued in the
Copenhagen Process and via instruments such as European Qualifications Framework (EQF), the European Credit system for VET (ECVET) and
the European Quality Assurance Reference framework for Vocational Education and
Training (EQARF);

· 
enhancing dialogue on systems of general
education, distance education and lifelong learning;

· 
enhancing international exchanges and
cooperation in the field of non-formal education for young people and youth
workers as a means to promote young people's participation in democratic life
and the labour market, the capacity of youth organisations and youth policy
dialogue, inter alia through EU programmes in the field of youth, such as
Erasmus+.

7.20       Culture

· 
the Parties will promote the implementation of
the 2005 UNESCO Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of
Cultural Expressions;

· 
cooperation on development of an inclusive
cultural policy in Ukraine and on the preservation and valorisation of cultural
and natural heritage;

· 
promote the participation of Ukrainian cultural
actors in cultural cooperation programmes and prepare Ukraine's participation
in the EU Creative Europe-programme, including the Culture Sub-programme.

7.21       Sport and physical activity

The parties shall exchange
information and good practices on the following topics: promotion of
health-enhancing physical activity, national competence and qualification
systems in the sport sector, integration of disadvantaged groups, the fight
against doping, the fight against match-fixing.

7.22       Civil society cooperation

The Parties will cooperate in the familiarisation of the
Ukrainian civil society institutions, including the EaP Civil Society Forum
national platform as regards the process of consolidation and dialogue between
social partners in the EU, with a view to further integrating civil society
into policy processes in Ukraine.

7.23       Cross-border and regional
cooperation

· 
implementation of the Memorandum of
Understanding for the Establishment of a Dialogue on Regional Policy and
Development of Regional Cooperation;

· 
strengthening cooperation under regional and
cross-border programmes between Ukraine and the EU with the aim of decreasing
the imbalance in development between relevant regions and ensuring their
prosperity by means of:

– 
establishment of long term links between social
and economic actors on both sides of the common borders contributing to the
improvement the competitiveness of border territories;

– 
joint activities for promoting social and
economic development in the border territories and integrating such activities
in the shaping of longer-term regional policies.

· 
diminish the border effect as a physical barrier
by means of:

– 
establishment of close contacts between regional
and local authorities;

– 
improvement of the efficiency of border
procedures, including through the further;

– 
improvement of necessary border infrastructures.

· 
strengthening cooperation under the EU Strategy
for the Danube Region (EUSDR), including through participation in the political
dialogue and implementation of actions and projects relevant for Ukraine, in
cooperation with the EU Member States concerned.

7.24       Regional development

· 
implementation of the Memorandum of
Understanding for the Establishment of a Dialogue on Regional Policy and Development
of Regional Cooperation;

· 
implementation of the State Regional Development
Strategy until 2020, adopted in 2014;

· 
definition of a Regional Development framework
through the adoption of the Law on Fundamentals of State Regional Policy or
amendments to regional development legislation;

· 
effective coordination mechanism in place,
including a structured consultation procedure with Regional Development
stakeholders (national and regional level, including civil society);

· 
full transparency and oversight of the budget
for Regional Development, including State Regional Development Fund and
subventions.

7.25       Audio-visual

· 
prepare for implementation of the EU acquis
mentioned in relevant annexes of the Association Agreement, in particular
Directive 2007/65/EC of 11 December 2007 on Audiovisual Media Services amending
Council Directive 89/552/EEC on the coordination of certain provisions laid
down by law, regulation or administrative action in Member States concerning
the pursuit of television broadcasting activities;

· 
prepare for Ukraine's participation in the EU
Creative Europe programme, including cooperation between Ukraine and the EU in
certain parts of the MEDIA Sub-programme.

7.26       Participation in Union
Programmes and Agencies

The Parties will cooperate closely to implement the provisions of Chapter XXVIII of the Title V of the Association Agreement which
enables Ukraine’s participation in Union programmes.

8.           Monitoring
and reporting provisions

The Association Committee or other relevant bodies will
review progress in implementing the Association Agenda as well as future
priorities and any necessary adjustments to the Association Agenda. The
Association Committee will meet regularly, at least once per year. Either side
may carry out its own review of progress in implementing the Association Agenda
independently of the Association Committee.

[1]               OJ L161/1, 29.5.2014, p. 1

[2]               OJ L 278/1, 20.09.2014, p. 1

[3]               OJ L289/1, 3.10.2014, p. 1

[4]               Adopted by General Assembly
resolution 48/134 of 20 December 1993