European partners praise pace of Ukrainian reforms in recent months - Shmyhal

European partners have praised the positive pace of Ukrainian reforms in recent months.

Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal said this at a Government meeting on September 7, according to the Government portal.

"During the Ukraine-EU Association Council, we switched from a partnership format to an enlargement format. In the coming months, we want to start substantive negotiations regarding the road map of such an entry. Free movement of goods, services, people, and capital. The four freedoms of the EU, in which we advance with confidence," Shmyhal said.

The prime minister noted that over the last six months, productive work had been carried out in terms of the full functioning of the sectoral visa waivers with the European Union.

"Energy, transport visa waivers, economic visa-free regime regarding cancellation of tariffs and quotas. From October 1, customs visa-free regime will trigger, next year – in industrial sector. For Ukrainian businesses, this means billions of hryvnias in profits already and tens of billions in opportunities for development," Shmyhal said.

In addition, five important agreements were inked during the visit. Denys Shmyhal has emphasized, Ukraine is now part of the Digital Europe — an agreement to finance digitization and IT technology projects worth EUR 7.5 billion.

"We received an additional EUR 500 million for housing for internally displaced persons and support for small farms. Another EUR 122 million for various grants for the State and civil society," he said.

Agreements on cooperation in the customs and tax spheres were also signed, which, according to the prime minister, will allow Ukraine to fully bring operation of these bodies in compliance with the best European standards.