Interfax: Poroshenko Administration: Ukraine to apply for EU membership in 2020

KYIV. Oct 8 (Interfax) – The Reform Strategy 2020 put forward by Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko envisages Ukraine’s application for European Union membership in 2020, first deputy head of the Ukrainian Presidential Administration Hennadiy Zubko said.

Zubko made the statement at a meeting with Zhytomyr region officials as he was presenting the reform program, the presidential press service said on Wednesday.

Speaking of power decentralization, he said the local authorities should have their powers expanded. “We should follow the example of Germany where wealthy cities solve problems on their own, without seeking assistance from the state budget,” Zubko emphasized.

The Reform Strategy consists of 62 points, the administration’s first deputy head said, adding that it prioritized anticorruption, tax and court reforms, decentralization of power, and reforms in the law enforcement authorities, national security, defense and healthcare, he said.

Poroshenko presented the Reform Strategy 2020 in Kyiv on September 25.

[featured image is file photo]