Flights will become cheaper: Ukraine signed an "open skies" agreement with the EU

A number of documents were signed in the framework of the 23rd Ukraine-EU Summit, in particular the Common Aviation Area Agreement.

A number of documents were signed during the 23rd Ukraine-European Union Summit in Kyiv on October 12 in the presence of President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky, President of the European Council Charles Michel and President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen.

In particular, Prime Minister of Ukraine Denys Shmyhal, Vice-President of the European Commission, High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell and Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Slovenia to Ukraine Tomaž Mencin signed the Agreement between Ukraine and the EU member-states on the Common Aviation Area.

Eight years after, the Common Aviation Area Agreement has finally been signed. My congratulations to Ukraine, to the presidents and to all members of the European Union. These are high standards of flight safety, new opportunities for citizens and businesses, more flights and a broader geography of travel.

the President of Ukraine

The document provides for the creation of a common aviation area between Ukraine and the EU, which will promote mutual access to air transport markets with a level playing field and respect for the same rules. These include flight safety, aviation security, air traffic management, social harmonization and environmental protection.

The signing of the Agreement will ensure the deepening of cooperation in the field of air transport, including in the context of industrial cooperation, and the development of the current system of air services agreements in order to deepen economic, cultural and transport ties between Ukraine and EU member states.

Also, an agreement was signed between Ukraine, the European Union and the European Atomic Energy Community on Ukraine's participation in the Horizon Europe Research and Innovation Framework Programme and the Euratom Research and Training Programme (2021-2025) complementary to Horizon Europe Research and Innovation Framework Programme. The document was signed by Minister of Education and Science of Ukraine Serhiy Shkarlet and Vice-President of the European Commission, High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell.

The signing of the document will provide a legal basis for cooperation in scientific and scientific-technical spheres and create preconditions necessary to accelerate Ukraine's development as an influential European state by expanding international scientific and technological cooperation, as well as ensure the necessary steps for our country's integration into the European Research Area. The associated status of Ukraine in these programs will promote the involvement of domestic subjects of scientific, scientific-technical and economic activities in the largest programme of the European Union for research and innovation, as well as attract support under this programme.

In addition, Vice Prime Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration of Ukraine Olha Stefanishyna and Vice-President of the European Commission, High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell signed an Agreement between Ukraine and the European Union on Ukraine's participation in the Creative Europe Programme (2021-2027).

The purpose of the Agreement is the participation of our country in the EU Creative Europe Programme for 2021-2027 aimed at supporting and strengthening the competitiveness of the European cultural, creative and audiovisual sectors, as well as the development and promotion of cultural and linguistic diversity and preservation of European cultural heritage.

"I am sincerely grateful to the leaders of the European Union institutions for today's important meeting. I appreciate the fruitful interaction between us, our regular contacts. We are ready to move forward together making practical and comprehensive European integration steps the effect of which must be felt by our Ukrainian citizens and businesses. We are confident in our common future, and we see it with the European Union, in a safe and successful European family," said President Volodymyr Zelensky.

Source: Governmental portal