In the two years since the Euromaidan demonstrations resulted in President Viktor Yanukovych being ousted from power, more than 9,000 people have lost their lives in Ukraine and one million more have been displaced. At the same time, however, the country has taken several steps towards closer links with the EU, not least with the entry into force on 1 January of the EU-Ukraine free trade area. Any further progress depends on reforms and this week Parliament held a three-day conference to map out ways to revamp the country's legislative process.
Attended by a 40-strong delegation of Ukrainian parliamentarians, Ukraine Week opened on 29 February with the presentation of a report on reform and capacity-building by former EP President Pat Cox. Speaking at the end of the conference, Andrej Plenković (EPP, Croatia), chair of the EU-Ukraine parliamentary association committee, described the conference as "an unprecedented exercise of close cooperation and in-depth joint reflection between the two parliaments."
REF. : 20160226STO16251
