Press Release: Commission and International Financial Institutions reach agreement with Ukraine on reform of the Ukrainian gas sector

Commission President, José Manuel Barroso said: 'I'm extremely pleased that political agreement has been reached with Ukraine on reform of its gas sector which opens the way for a financial assistance package to be provided by the International Financial Institutions to Ukraine. The agreement should provide the stability needed to significantly reduce the risk of a further gas crisis between Ukraine and Russia and therefore provide the security of supply that Member States and our consumers expect.
The commitments made by Ukrainian Prime Minister Tymoshenko should ensure increased transparency and long-term viability of Ukraine's gas sector, and I very much hope that the strict timeframes set out in the reform agenda are fully respected.
I would like to thank the International Financial Institutions for their commitment and flexibility in finding a solution to the structural issues facing Ukraine. This is an extraordinary display of collective effort. The European Commission will continue to support reform of the energy sector in Ukraine building on the achievements of the Joint EU-Ukraine International Investment Conference on the modernisation of Ukraine's gas transit system, the Joint Memorandum of Understanding on Energy and the negotiations on Ukraine's accession to the Energy Community Treaty.
I believe this agreement should help Ukraine become a more reliable energy partner for the benefit of both the European Union and Ukraine's own people.'