The Ukrainian government adopted on Saturday an action plan on furthering cooperation with the European Union (EU), Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko said in Kiev Saturday.

The three-year plan, adopted at a cabinet meeting, is expected to be formally signed at a regular meeting of the Ukraine-EU cooperation commission, scheduled for Feb. 21, said Tymoshenko.

The plan is aimed at strengthening cooperation between Ukraine and the EU in energy, economy and technology, and on the establishment of a bilateral free trade zone with the EU bloc and the simplification of the visa-issuing process with EU countries.

Ukraine hopes to start negotiations on accession to the EU by 2007, and views the adoption of the action plan as a step toward joining the 25-member bloc.

Ukrainian President Viktor Yushchenko had announced his intention to launch his country's application to join the EU by 2007 once the action plan is completed.

Source: Xinhua