The Batkivshchyna Party, which is headed by Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko, has been admitted as a member of the European People’s Party.

This announcement was made by the Secretary General of the European People’s Party Antonio López-Istúriz.

According to him, the European People’s Party adopted this decision on Monday, January 28, and it will be made official soon.

López-Istúriz said that the European People’s Party welcomed the fact that Tymoshenko’s Batkivshchyna Party and President Viktor Yushchenko’s Our Ukraine Party were its members.

He assured that his party will be a worthy partner of the Ukrainian parties on the road to reform.

Tymoshenko said she expects membership in the European People’s Party to result in support for democracy in Ukraine and Ukraine’s integration into Europe.

According to her, the European People’s Party has 72 member-parties in 39 countries.

As was reported earlier, Tymoshenko is in Brussels (Belgium) for meetings with the leadership of the European Union.