June 28 the 4th annual summit of Yalta European Strategy (YES) is to be launched

From June 28 to July 1, the 4th annual summit of Yalta European Strategy (YES) is to be held.

The annual "Yalta European Strategy" Summit is the largest and the most influential Ukrainian-European high-level informal forum attended by politicians, public figures and diplomats from Great Britain, USA, France, Germany, Poland, Russia and other countries. This year, the guests of the 4th annual summit will, in particular, be 42nd US President William Jefferson Clinton, Federal Chancellor of Germany (1998-2005) Gerhard Schröder, the President of Poland (1995-2005) Alexander Kwasniewski. The President of Ukraine is to speak at the official opening ceremony of the summit.

The 4th annual YES summit will be mainly focused on discussion of today's relations between Ukraine and the European Union and Ukraine's prospects related to its accession to EU in compliance with a strategy developed by YES experts "Agenda - 2020", prospects for improvements to be made within Ukrainian economics in view of holding EURO-2012 Cup, improvement of investment climate, security of energy supply, commercial and economic relations between Ukraine and EU and also current political situation in Ukraine.

On June 28, the summit will start off by a traditional conference held in one of the Kyiv's hotels "Premier Palace". During the day, YES participants are also invited to visit PinchukArtCentre located in "Arena" group of buildings. The next two days of the summit will be held in Livadia Palace (Big Yalta, ARC). There will be plenary sessions and roundtable sessions dedicated to enhancing the rule of law and reforms of judicial system, as well as energy supply and setting up free trade zone between Ukraine and EU.

YES is an independent organization bringing together high-level participants in Ukraine, and internationally: policy-makers, business leaders, thinkers, researchers and journalists.

The YES Board includes competitive public and political figures from Europe - Dr. Mario David - Member of Parliament, Portugal, Vice-president of the EPP, Alexandr Kwasniewski - President of Poland (1995 - 2005), Founder of YES, Victor Pinchuk, Marek Siwiec - Member of the European Parliament, Alexander Rahr - Programm Director, Körber Center, German Council on Foreign Relations, Jean-Pierre Saltiel - President (1998-2004), Rothschild Conseil Internationa, Stéphane Fouks - CEO France of Euro RSCG Worldwide. Rt. Hon. Stephen Byers - Member of Parliament, UK; Chairman of the Board of YES.

The annual YES summits in Yalta have become the leading informal high-level forum focused on discussing and development of political recommendations. In 2006, the YES experts developed an analytical document "Agenda-2020", representing a step-by-step strategy for Ukraine's accession to the European Union in 2020.

YES was created at the initiative of a Ukrainian businessman and public figure, Victor Pinchuk in spring 2004.