The key for Ukraine is the constant implementation of the Association Agreement with the EU. Volodymyr Omelyan, the Minister of Infrastructure of Ukraine, stated the above during a joint press conference with Henrik Hololei, the European Commission's Director-General for Mobility and Transport that was held on May 24, 2019, in Odessa, in the framework of the Second High-level Ukraine-EU Transport Dialogue.

The Minister of Infrastructure of Ukraine thanked the European partners for their continued support of Ukraine: "I am extremely grateful to Mr. Hololei for being with us today in Odessa, as well as for the continuous support of Ukraine by the European partners. Mr. Henrik Hololei proposed to create a new tool that should reliably connect Ukraine with the EU. This is a High-level Transport Dialogue. Last year was the first meeting and today in Odesa, we have the second meeting of the High-level Transport Dialogue. Today, on the agenda, there are many important issues that bring Ukraine closer to the European Union every day. I would like to emphasize once again that a successful, modern, developed Ukraine is possible only as a member of the European Union and NATO. We can’t create our own unique miracle without having the allies in the West. It is possible only together. But, we need to change ourselves, change the infrastructure and that is what we are doing".

Volodymyr Omelyan emphasized that, regardless of political realities in Ukraine, the development of infrastructure should continue in the direction of European integration: "Last year Ukraine became a member of the Trans-European Transport Network (TEN-T).  It is also an EU initiative and, in fact, since last year, the EU transport borders are not ended on the western border of Ukraine, but on the east. We have a unified transport policy: rail, road, aviation and maritime. Now the key for Ukraine, for transport and for any other sphere - is constant implementation of the Association Agreement. I hope that those 20 infrastructure bills that have been in parliament for several years will eventually be voted on this year".

The Minister of Infrastructure of Ukraine outlined the main vectors of cooperation with European partners: "We are seriously considering the digital infrastructure. Over the past few years, the ministry has been a leader in introducing of e-tickets, creating an e-carrier cabinet with new e-services, and this has been a teamwork, a long way, and we can already be proud of the results in collaboration with the European Commission. Another direction is environmentally friendly transport - electric cars. Our initiative to reduce the taxation on the import of electric cars was successful and Ukraine has become one of the top - countries in the world where the electric car market is growing fast. We see that Ukrainians are mentally ready to innovations and like this mode of transport. This is the policy of the ministry, supported by MP’s, the Government, and I am glad that yesterday the President joined to the initiative of the electro mobility development in Ukraine. We believe that the rapid development of EV charging station, construction and production of electric cars, batteries and chargers are the future that should be in our state. We are paying serious attention to cybersecurity and together with the EU and our US partners are developing a cybersecurity center of the Ukrainian digital space. This is very important because you can create the best electronic solutions, but if they are not protected, they can be instantly destroyed, both by an external aggressor and by ordinary hackers. I am sincerely grateful European Union for a reliable partnership ", - summed up Volodymyr Omelyan.

Henrik Hololei, the European Commission's Director-General for Mobility and Transport thanked Volodymyr Omelyan for cooperation and expressed his readiness to further support of Ukraine on the path of reforms: "Thank you for the opportunity to see Ukraine’s pearl - Odesa, where the Second Transport Dialogue continues today. We continue to discuss issues that began last year in Kyiv. Now it is the time to sum up and see what we have achieved since the First Transport Dialogue last year. With pleasure, I would like to note positive developments thanks to the Minister of Infrastructure Volodymyr Omelyan and his team. Changes over the past year are incomparably more significant  than in previous years. I hope that in the future, with the help of the new President and Parliament, this progress will be greater. We are ready to help and support Ukraine. Know that Ukraine is  very important partner of the European Union, not only in the transport industry, but also in all others".

Henrik Hololei noted the first steps in the implementing of the National Transport Strategy of Ukraine 2030: "I would like to congratulate Mr. Omelyan on the development of a roadmap of the transport strategy of Ukraine and on the first ways of its realization have been defined. This is very important for further cooperation between Ukraine and the EU. Now we see your priorities and it motivates us for further cooperation with your country. Last year Ukraine became a member of the Trans-European Transport Network (TEN-T) and it is very important. This is a very clear signal, because now the transport corridor of Europe continues through Ukraine. This event is the impetus for the attraction of investment in infrastructure. With the help of the World Bank, the European Union will attract 4.5 billion euros of investment in the transport system, 39 projects at a worth of 4.5 billion euros will be implemented in the next ten years. We have a lot of work ahead. We would like you to take advantage of a good geographical location and become a transport hub between Europe and Asia. Therefore, we welcome the readiness of Ukraine to participate in the development of new railway corridors and to be a part of the Silk Road. "

The Director-General for Mobility and Transport stressed on the need of the adoption of legislative transport reform acts, in particular, draft laws on rail and water transport. He also expressed readiness to continue cooperation with authorities in Ukraine in order these legislative acts would be adopted in the nearest future.

Henrik Hololei, the European Commission's Director-General for Mobility and Transport highlighted on the achievements in the aviation that Ukraine has reached during the cadence of the Minister of Infrastructure Volodymyr Omelyan: "I especially want to emphasize on the achievements in the aviation industry. Historically, Ukraine is a conductor of aerospace technologies. Cooperation in this area is important for us. We use your experience, and this deepens the cooperation between Ukraine and the EU in the field of aviation safety and air navigation. I welcome the expansion of flights between Ukraine and Europe. The potential of Ukraine is extremely high. And we will realize it together. "

The Second EU-Ukraine Transport Dialogue were also attended by the Head of the State Aviation Service of Ukraine Oleksandr Bilchuk, Director of UkSATSE Dmytro Babeychuk, the Head of Maritime Administration Dmytro  Petrenko, the Head of the USPA Raivis Veckagans, the head of the Reform Support Team at the Ministry of Infrastructure Irina Koshel and others.