There is the importance for more advanced cooperation models for associated EU partners. This was underlined by the Vice Prime Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration of Ukraine Ivanna Klympush-Tsintsadze during the speech at the opening of the Fifth Annual Conference of the Eastern Partnership in Tallinn (Republic of Estonia).

The Vice Prime Minister talked about the progress of reforms in Ukraine and stressed that the support of the EU and the EU member state countries in their implementation is invaluable. In this context, she emphasized the importance of the recently approved Governmental and Parliamentary Roadmap on the adoption of draft laws in the field of European integration. This document should provide political support to the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, which is necessary to accelerate reforms.

Also, Ukraine wants to be actively involved in the implementation of the EU's External Investment Plan. Our country needs comprehensive support of the European Union in implementing reforms and overcoming the economic consequences of Russian aggression.

Separately, Ivanna Klympush-Tsintsadze emphasized on the importance of more advanced cooperation models implementation for associated EU partners after they achieve progress in the implementation of the Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area with the EU. “The Initiative “Eastern Partnership +” should get a practical foundation. The Member countries of the current programme prefer to get the access to the "four freedoms of the EU", namely, the freedom of movement of goods, services, people and capital", she stressed.

For example, after the introduction of a visa-free regime with the EU, Ukraine intends to explore opportunities for joining the Schengen area in the long term prospect.

The President of the Republic of Estonia Kersti Kaljulaid, in his turn, assured that her country supported the Eastern Partnership programme and did not exclude that its members could join the EU in the future: "It is difficult to become the EU member, but democratic countries, countries with a completely free economy, have such opportunities. Unknown when, but it could happen".

Also Ivanna Klympush-Tsintsadze informed that the Government of Ukraine approved the Concept for the Development of the Digital Economy and Society of Ukraine for 2018-2020, which provides a clear plan of measures and specific goals. Among them, in particular, technological and digital modernization of the industry and the creation of high-tech industries, accessibility for citizens to the benefits and opportunities of the digital world and the development of digital industries and digital entrepreneurship.

 "Closer cooperation between the EU and the Eastern Partnership countries in the digital economy will open new economic opportunities and a faster growth prospect for all member states. Ukraine wants to be a member of the EU's single digital market", - said Vice Prime Minister.

Separately, Ivanna Klimpush-Tsintsadze touched the theme of cooperation in the field of energy. Ukraine and the EU are the strategic partners in this field for a long time. Despite Russia's attempts to intervene in this, Ukraine has always been a reliable transit country for the EU even in difficult recent years. In the future, with the deepening of cooperation with the EU, Ukraine hopes to become even more reliable in terms of transit of energy, and further, the supplier country. “We fully share the ideas of the Energy Union and want to join it” - said Vice Prime Minister. It will promote the development of the competition in the interior market, strengthen regional cooperation and improve energy security.