Head of the Support Group under the European Commission Peter Wagner was quoted as saying in the process of the discussion of reforms in Ukraine in London. "The economic situation has stabilized in an impressively fast manner, decentralization is most advanced", he added.

The working visit was devoted to tackling the progress of reforms in Ukraine and the priorities for the future, as well as discussing details of further cooperation, in particular, supporting reforms in Ukraine.

Minister of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine Oleksandr Saienko delivered a presentation on the state of reforms and priorities for the Government. He also met with representatives of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development and partners from the European Union.

"We have made significant progress and now is time to consolidate our achievements. At the next stage, we want to focus our efforts on priorities such as privatization, effective governance of state-owned enterprises, public administration reform and business climate improvement. We also strive to expand the scope of the support program by establishing reform support groups in other ministries and departments. These teams are not just important for the implementation of reforms, they are a potential basis for the modern professional and efficient public service in Ukraine".

The Minister also thanked the international partners for their unwavering and integrated support, thereby proving the trust and recognition of our progress in pursuing the reforms.

European Commissioner Johannes Hahn added: "The Association Agreement brings the EU and Ukraine closer and opens up the potential for ever stronger cooperation. To reap the full benefit of the Agreement, Ukraine needs to adopt many, often difficult reforms. We remain committed to helping Ukraine build stronger governance, a stronger economy and a stronger society. Public administration must be inclusive, transparent, scrupulously honest and accountable, and it must deliver quality services to all Ukrainian citizens. Ukraine’s future and the success of its reform process depend on dedicated Ukrainians working with enthusiasm and engagement for their country's future.  We are helping them to build a stronger Ukraine."

It should be noted that to support the implementation of reforms in Ukraine with the assistance of the EBRD and the EU, reform support groups were set up in 2016. At the first stage, such groups worked in the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Economic Development and Trade, the Ministry of Infrastructure and the Ministry of Agrarian Policy and Food of Ukraine. Following the successful first phase of the reform, such support teams were established in the Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources and the Ministry of Regional Development, Construction, Housing and Communal Services of Ukraine, as well as the State Agency of Motor Roads of Ukraine. Today, they employ about 150 people who engage in the development and implementation of priorities of sectoral reforms, as well as the transformation of the state apparatus.

Reform support teams are part of the wider reform architecture #MakeReformsHappen in Ukraine. It also comprises the National Reform Council of Ukraine, the Reforms Delivery Office within the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine, the Strategic Advisory Group for Supporting Ukrainian Reforms (SAGSUR) led by Ivan Mikloš. Elements of the reform architecture are funded from the EBRD-Ukraine Stabilisation and Sustainable Growth Multi-Donor Account (MDA) established in 2014 to support Ukraine's efforts to reform the economy, improve the business climate and ensure sustainable development, with Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the Netherlands, Poland, Sweden, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, the USA and the EU contributing to the account.