KYIV. April 7 (Interfax-Ukraine) – The deputies of the European Parliament have supported by a majority of votes granting a visa-free regime to Ukrainian citizens by the European Union, Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko has said.
“A piece of news has just come that there are 521 votes in the European Parliament “for” a visa-free regime with Ukraine. I congratulate all who have done their best to this purpose! And I congratulate you, the Ukrainian people, I congratulate you, Ukraine,” he said at the 10th Kyiv Security Forum on Thursday.
At a meeting of the European Parliament on Thursday afternoon, 521 European deputies voted ‘for’ granting visa-free regime to Ukrainian citizens by the EU, while 75 were ‘against’ and 36 abstained.
As reported, on February 28 during consultations of EU member states, representatives of the European Parliament and the European Commission, it was agreed to launch visa liberalization for Ukrainian citizens.
The trialogue between the EU Council, the European Commission and the European Parliament on granting a visa-free regime to Ukraine ended on March 1.
The Committee of Permanent Representatives of the Member States of the European Union (COREPER) on March 2 confirmed a decision reached within the framework of the triad.
On March 9, the European Parliament Committee for Civil Liberties, Justice and Internal Affairs (LIBE) approved a draft on including Ukraine into the list of third countries whose citizens are canceled visa requirements.
Thus, the completion of the process of liberalization of the visa regime requires several more procedural points, in particular, the approval by the Council of the EU.
After this, the document must be signed by the president of the European Parliament and the representative of the country presiding in the EU and published in the official journal of the EU.
The decision to introduce a visa-free regime will come into force 20 days after its publication.
KYIV. April 7 (Interfax-Ukraine) – Sugar exports from Ukraine since the start of the 2016/17 agricultural year (September-August) totaled 611,000 tonnes, the Ukrtsukor national association of sugar producers has said.
The association said in a press release that in March, Ukrainian companies exported 89,100 tonnes of sugar. This was 27% less than in February.
Some 15,260 tonnes was exported to Cote d’Ivoire in March, 11,390 tonnes to Sudan, 10,200 tonnes to Myanmar and 10,100 tonnes to Togo.
Now Ukrainian companies are sowing sugar beets. Sugar beets have been planted on 130,700 ha with the target of 330,000-350,000 ha.
As reported, referring to Ukrtsukor, Ukraine in 2015/16 agri-year increased sugar exports by almost 3%, to 113,000 tonnes.
KYIV. April 6 (Interfax-Ukraine) – The largest recipient of VAT refunds in March 2017, as in the previous two months, was Kernel-Trade agricultural exporter with UAH 1.335 billion, the State Treasury Service has reported.
According to its data, the following are Dniprovsky steel mill, part of ISD Corporation, with UAH 647.8 million and ArcelorMittal Kryvyi Rih with UAH 637.54 million.
The following four places are also occupied by the representatives of the mining and metallurgical complex: Zaporizhstal with UAH 494.7 million, Azovstal with UAH 469.5 million, Poltava GOK with UAH 426.8 million and Mariupol-based Illich steel mill with UAH 408 million.
The top ten recipients of VAT refunds also include three agricultural exporters: Satellite LLC with UAH 330.5 million, Louis Dreyfus Company Ukraine with UAH 271.4 million, and Suntrade with UAH 188.7 million.
KYIV. April 6 (Interfax-Ukraine) – Eco-Bud-Trade LLC (Kyiv) has won a tender to build the Podilsko-Voskresensky Bridge in Kyiv held on March 31, the press service of Kyiv City Administration has reported.
Director of the construction and housing provision department of Kyiv City Administration Kostiantyn Fedotov said that the tender to build the bridge was held for two sections. Eco-Bud-Trade LLC won the two lots.
According to the report, the company proposed to build a section across the Dnipro River for UAH 4.3 billion, while works on the left bank would cost UAH 1.7 billion. Some works are to be completed in 2017.
“The top priority task for this year set before the winner of the tender will be completion of works in the section across the Dnipro River,” Fedotov said.
As reported, the city has arranged with participation of Head of Kyiv City State Administration Vitali Klitschko the examination of the Podilsko-Voskresensky Bridge by German specialists. Germany has provided EUR 200,000 for this purpose.
The authorities hope that urban traffic movement across the bridge will be launched in three years.
