EU to create support group for Ukraine

The European Commission Wednesday decided to create a support group for Ukraine with the objective of providing a structure, overview and guidance for the Commission's work to support the country.

It will also help mobilise member states' expertise and further enhance coordination with other donors and international financing institutions, Xinhua quoted an EU statement as saying.

European Commissioner for enlargement and neighbourhood policy Stefan Fule will coordinate the support group, which will report to European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso and High Representative Catherine Ashton and will draw on the contributions of all relevant Commission portfolios.

"The European Commission is determined to help Ukraine for the long term," said Barroso.

"Today's decision to create a support group will ensure that the Ukrainian authorities have all the support they need in undertaking the political and economic reforms that are necessary to stabilize the country."

Until the end of 2014, the group will identify and coordinate with Ukrainian authorities, benefitting from input from the member states.

In the medium term (from 2015), the goal of the group will be to further support Ukraine in the elaboration and implementation of comprehensive reform programmes. The group will be based in Brussels, with its staff travelling to Ukraine as necessary.