Today at 09:15
A meeting of co-chairs of the Ukrainian-Slovak Joint Commission on Economic, Industrial and Scientific-Technical Cooperation (the Commission) Deputy Prime Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration of Ukraine Olha Stefanishyna and Minister of Economy of the Slovak Republic Karel Hirman took place.
It is the first meeting at the level of co-chairs of intergovernmental commissions that have taken place physically in Kyiv since the beginning of the full-scale war.
As a result of the meeting, the parties signed a Protocol of the 5th meeting of the Commission setting forth key agreements on further bilateral cooperation, particularly in the areas of trade and investment, energy, transport, electronic communications, science and innovation, etc.
“The signing of today’s protocol will expand the boundaries of Ukrainian-Slovak cooperation and facilitate identification of new forms of cooperation in the areas of mutual interest. I am confident that achievements within the Commission will play a key role in the process of post-war economic reconstruction of Ukraine,” Olha Stefanishyna said.
According to the protocol, Ukraine and Slovakia:
- agreed to strengthen cooperation to implement projects funded through the instruments of international organizations and international financial institutions (UN agencies, the World Bank Group, development banks);
- declared intentions to deepen cooperation to implement the EU hydrogen strategy. The parties noted that the gas systems of both countries can play an important role in decarbonization by using existing assets to transport hydrogen to Europe;
- agreed to consider the possibility of cooperation on the construction of an underwater Internet connection between Asia and Europe through the Black Sea.
One of the key areas of long-term cooperation in the framework of the signed protocol is the involvement of Slovakia in the process of post-war reconstruction of Ukraine. The parties agreed to focus on the preparation of a list of areas and projects to be implemented in accordance with the National Recovery Plan of Ukraine.
Olha Stefanishyna thanked Slovakia for its unwavering and decisive position in support of the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine, supporting our country on its path to EU membership. At the same time, she called on Slovakia as an EU member state to support the earliest possible start of negotiations on the signing of the Agreement on Conformity Assessment and Acceptance of Industrial Products (ACAA) between Ukraine and the EU. The Slovak Republic expressed readiness to share experience and assist Ukraine in the adaptation of certain sectors to the requirements and standards of the EU Internal Market.
The parties also discussed cross-border cooperation, in particular the development of logistics routes, transboundary territories and border infrastructure.
The Deputy Prime Minister noted that the border crossing points will become the main arteries of imports during the post-war recovery of Ukraine. In turn, the Slovak side informed about the plans to build the D1 motorway from Bidovce to the state border with Ukraine and expressed full support for the expansion of the Trans-European Transport Network (TEN-T) infrastructure to Ukraine and Moldova.
Besides, the participants addressed the issue of operation of the energy system of Ukraine in the context of continued massive attacks by Russia on the energy infrastructure, as well as the expansion of cooperation in the energy sector, in particular the possibility of participation of Slovak companies in the restoration of the Ukrainian energy infrastructure.
Olha Stefanishyna emphasized the importance and timeliness of the decision to join the European ENTSO-E energy system at the beginning of the full-scale war, which today allows Ukraine to recover faster after the Russian missile attacks. She also emphasized the need for strengthening the protection of civilians and critical infrastructure from massive attacks of the aggressor, as well as prompt supply of materials and equipment for repairs.
