MOSCOW, April 9 (RIA Novosti) – The European Commission has decided to create a special support group for crisis-hit Ukraine, European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso said Wednesday.
“Today's decision to create a Support Group will ensure that the Ukrainian authorities have all the support they need in undertaking the political and economic reforms that are necessary to stabilize the country. Our common goal is to have a democratic, independent and prosperous Ukraine,” Barroso said in a statement.
The support group is expected to supervise the work of various European Commission agencies charged with rendering assistance to Ukraine.
“This will also help mobilize member states' expertise and further enhance coordination with other donors and international financing institutions," the statement reads.
The head of the organization will be Stefan Fuele, the European Commissioner for Enlargement and European Neighborhood Policy.
The European Commission statement said that by the end of the year the group will identify and coordinate with the Ukrainian government on the technical assistance necessary to stabilize the economic and political situation in the country.
Beginning next year, the group will ensure assistance in defining and implementing reforms for Ukraine.
Last month, Brussels unveiled a major aid program for Ukraine with about $15 billion worth of loans, donations and business deals. It also announced a decision to reduce customs duties for Ukrainian goods to the European Union.
In February, the Ukrainian parliament backed by far-right movements ousted President Viktor Yanukovych, amended the constitution and scheduled an early presidential election for May 25.
Moscow has described the uprising in Kiev as an illegitimate fascist coup and a military seizure of power, which resulted in it taking steps to protect ethnic Russians in Ukraine, including backing the reunification of Crimea. It blames the ongoing crisis in the country on Ukrainian nationalists and their aggressive rhetoric.
Russia has insisted that a federal form of government is the only way out of the protracted political stalemate in Ukraine, currently a unitary state which is de-facto split into a Ukrainian-speaking west and a Russian-speaking east and south.
