| 12 June 2007 On 11 June at the meeting between the EU Justice and Home Affairs Troika with Ukraine in Luxembourg a working agreement between FRONTEX - the European Border Management Agency - and the Ukrainian border guard service was signed. This agreement sets the basis for jointly improving border security arrangements, border control efficiency and a reliable exchange of information. The EU assists Ukraine in setting up adequate facilities for refugees and illegal migrants through specific projects. The participants in the Troika meeting noted with satisfaction that Ukraine has begun to overhaul its asylum system and encouraged Ukraine to implement the reforms soon. The meeting was held between the German EU Council Presidency, the European Commission Vice-President Franco Frattini, and the Portuguese Justice and Interior Ministers, Alberto Costa and Rui Pereira, with a Ukrainian delegation in Luxembourg. The Ukrainian delegation was headed by Minister of Justice Oleksandr V. Lavrynovych and Deputy Minister of Interior Vasyl Marmazov. The current discussions focus primarily on the envisaged readmission agreement and a visa facilitation agreement scheduled to take effect before the end of this year. The parties also intend to step up cooperation through the recently begun negotiations about an extended agreement on partnership and cooperation. "As a direct neighbour with long common borders, Ukraine is of particular importance for the EU," said Interior Minister Wolfgang Schauble. "Tackling illegal migration and organized crime invariably requires a joint response. This is especially urgent with regard to countering human trafficking, because Ukraine is one of the main countries of origins of the victims trafficked to Western Europe, Russia and the Middle East," he emphasized. The Council Presidency appreciated the recently begun reform of the justice system, as an independent, impartial and efficient justice system is one of the major pillars of a democratic society based on the rule of law. The EU encouraged Ukraine to continue on the course it has taken and has promised to do everything it can to support the country in the reform process.
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