KIEV, Dec. 29 – One of the most important outcomes of the EU-Ukraine summit held on December 19 in Kiev, was the recognition by European partners of Kiev's fulfillment of the first stage of the Action Plan for achieving a visa-free regime with the EU, Foreign Minister Kostiantyn Hryschenko said.

"This is also a confirmation of the current authorities' efficiency... Our ability over the past year and a half to make a serious progress in addressing the abovementioned issues, allowed us have an Action Plan signed, and to receive the acknowledgement of the first phase of its implementation. So I think by 2014 we will have a real chance to qualify for visa-free regime," Hryschenko said in an exclusive interview with Interfax-Ukraine.