Joint press statement on EU-Ukraine ministerial meeting on energy

Today, Commissioner for Energy Kadri Simson and Acting Energy Minister of Ukraine, Olha Buslavets, held a ministerial meeting, in the form of a video-conference, under the Memorandum of Understanding on a Strategic Energy Partnership between the EU and Ukraine.

Both sides endorsed the annual work plan for 2021 setting out actions for cooperation in all key areas, including a strong emphasis on the European Green Deal, cooperation on energy efficiency and renewable energy, nuclear safety, as well as a call to continue market reforms.

Recalling Ukraine’s ambition to approximate its policies and legislation with the European Green Deal, Commissioner Simson and Acting Minister Buslavets agreed on the common interest to engage on climate change and the clean energy transition, including pursuing ambitious environmental and climate objectives. The European Commission expressed  strong support for the decarbonisation of the Ukrainian energy sector, in particular through increased electrification, promotion of transparent and market-based use of renewable energy and decarbonised gases, including clean hydrogen, and energy efficiency measures. Cooperation on methane emissions was also addressed as a common area for action.

The EU and Ukraine agreed on the need to continue Ukraine’s efforts in reforming the energy sector in line with the EU acquis and principles. Recalling the constructive approach of the Ukrainian government in the trilateral talks in the end of 2019, both sides stressed the strategic role of Ukraine as a reliable gas transit country. Commissioner Simson reiterated the importance of an independent and financially sound transmission system operator, fully in line with EU rules.

The Memorandum of Understanding on a Strategic Energy Partnership was signed in 2016 on the occasion of the EU-Ukraine Summit. It foresees enhanced cooperation on a number of energy topics, from energy security to full market integration, energy efficiency and the decarbonisation of the economy, to research and cooperation. The Memorandum of Understanding covers an initial period of 10 years and is implemented through annual work plans. The EU-Ukraine Summit on 6 October 2020 agreed on a focused dialogue on the necessary steps in areas covered by the European Green Deal, of which the 2021 annual work plan on energy is the first concrete outcome.

Related link

• Energy cooperation EU-Ukraine