KYIV, Dec 2 – A number of unresolved critical problems in the field of electricity, energy efficiency and the environment remain in Ukraine, the European Commission said in EU's annual report on the implementation of the Association Agreement, released on its website.

The European Commission, in particular, noted serious structural problems in the electricity market, associated with its concentration, limited competition and resource cost, "despite legislative steps forward opening of electricity wholesale market" in July 2019. "The government and the Regulator kept strong price regulations at wholesale and retail level, which contributed to a deep financial crisis in the sector, further affected by the economic consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic," the commission said in the report.