According to Prime Minister Yurii Yekhanurov the European Union announced yesterday that its council of ministers had officially granted Ukraine market economy status. Yekhanurov added that the USA is planning to review Ukraine’s economic status on January 27, and he hopes they follow suit. Concorde Capital: The EU first agreed to grant Ukraine market economy status following the Ukraine-EU summit on December 1. Gaining market economy status is the first step in President Yushchenko’s plan for Euro-integration. Next year the government hopes to join the WTO and open a free-trade zone with the EU.