Ukraine 's entry in Energy Community, a pact that ensures countries share the same legal framework for energy investments, will enhance Europe 's security of gas supply, the European Commission said Friday.

"This is a major step both for the Energy Community and Ukraine , said Marlene Holzner, spokeswoman for Energy Commissioner Guenther Oettinger. "It will enhance security of supply."

The European Commission now expects Ukraine to ratify the pact in the next few months, so it can become a full member by early next year, Holzner said.

The pact ensures member countries share the same legal framework to enforce transparency in investments, open access to the markets, and limit abuse of dominant market positions.

Holzner also said that now Ukraine 's national energy company Naftogaz has to separate its production business from the transmission activities, in line with European and Energy Community rules.

" Ukraine has to split the two," she said.

The country's Minister of Fuel and Energy, Yuriy Boyko, signed earlier Friday an agreement to enter the Energy Community.

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