EU continues to press Ukrainian president for tough economic and judicial reforms
Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko will meet with key EU officials in Brussels today as part of the 20th EU-Ukraine summit, an annual event that seeks to emphasise Ukraine’s desire for closer economic and political ties with the EU.
Poroshenko’s arrival in Brussels comes as Kiev seeks to implement a series of reforms in exchange for the latest tranche of funds from its IMF rescue package. EU-IMF demands for a new anti-corruption court and an end to political interference in the judicial system have met some resistance from Ukraine’s parliament.
The stalled reform effort is likely to accelerate pressure on the EU to call for greater reforms to media freedom and to address allegations of human rights abuses by Ukrainian authorities against journalists and human rights activists. Poroshenko is expected to address EU and IMF concerns while seeking a timeline for the release of stalled financial aid. The reforms are anticipated to pass, with Ukraine’s lenders expected to make further aid contingent on their passage.
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