Ukraine together with the EU will develop the infrastructure of the Azov region. Volodymyr Omelyan, the Minister of Infrastructure of Ukraine, stated the above during a meeting with Hugues Mingarelli, EU Ambassador to Ukraine, Head of the EU Delegation to Ukraine. The meeting was also attended by Jean-Erik De Zagon, Head of the EIB Resident Representation for Ukraine, representatives of the management of Ukrzaliznytsya, State Agency of Automobile Roads of Ukraine and Ukrainian Sea Ports Authority.

The parties discussed a wide range of issues of bilateral cooperation, special attention was paid to the development of infrastructure of the Azov region and the implementation of the Association Agreement between Ukraine and the EU. The Minister of Infrastructure of Ukraine noted that the Azov region is in the center of attention of President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko, the Government and the Ministry of Infrastructure: "We are talking about Azov as the point of resistance to Russian aggression at sea. The issue of strengthening the security of Mariupol and Berdyansk is in the field of special attention of the Head of State. From our side, the development of infrastructure of this region is important both in terms of enhancing security and in terms of stimulating the growth of the economic and socio-cultural development of the region".

Hugues Mingarelli, EU Ambassador to Ukraine, Head of the EU Delegation to Ukraine noted that European institutions are ready to support two projects: the improvement of the rail connection Zaporizhia-Mariupol and the construction of a road Mariupol-Mykolaiv. Now, a pre-feasibility study of both projects are developing involving EIB funding.

The parties also discussed the implementation by Ukraine of the Association Agreement in the context of the approval of legislation in the field of transport and infrastructure. Volodymyr Omelyan said that the key infrastructure draft laws, which are part of the Association Agreement, are at the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine and expects their approval by the parliament. "I will initiate the Infrastructure Day at the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine", - the head of the ministry stressed.

Volodymyr Omelyan also said that the Ukrainian side is preparing for the Ukraine-EU High-level Transport Dialogue. The previous similar event was held in February 2018, between the Minister of Infrastructure of Ukraine Volodymyr Omelyan and Henrik Hololei, the Director-General of European Commission for Mobility and Transport. This was the first such event of the European Union among all countries of the Eastern European Partnership.

The parties also noted the high level of cooperation in the field of aviation. Volodymyr Omelyan called on the European side to provide expert assistance to improve the operation of the border infrastructure on the Ukraine-EU border. Volodymyr Omelyan also informed the Head of the EU Delegation to Ukraine about his visit to the TEN-T and CEF (Connecting Europe Facility) Conference in the context of the development of the Rhine-Danube and East-West transport corridors, that related to the European Basic Transport Network and will be held at the end of March in Bucharest. During the visit, the Minister of Infrastructure will hold talks with Violeta Bulc, the European Commissioner for Mobility and Transport on key issues of EU-Ukraine cooperation in the field of transport and infrastructure.