(ANSA) - RIGA - The Macro-Financial Assistance Programme for Ukraine, amounting up to 1.8 billion euros, added to the previous ones of 1.61 billion euros, "is the largest Macro-Financial Assistance Programme which has ever been committed to a non-EU country" said the EU Commission Vice-President, Valdis Dombrovskis, at the signing the Memorandum of Understanding with Ukraine in Riga.

"I would like to thank both the EU and Ukrainian negotiators for their intensive work, which they have carried out to ensure a speedy agreement on the Memorandum of Understanding - the latvian politicona added. The same Memorandum "also foresees key reform commitments, as regards the Ukrainian side, in order to strengthen the competitiveness of its economy, in order to strengthen the governance of public finances and a number of other important areas of reform" Dombroviskis noted.

"We are aware of the serious challenges Ukraine is facing, both in terms of the economy and as regards the security situation in Ukraine. We are encouraged to see the reform effort of the government, commitment of the government to strengthen Ukraine's economy and to strengthen ties with European Union" he concluded. (ANSA).