Ukrainian deputy prime minister Oleg Ribachuk called on Thursday for the European Union to help his country reinforce its customs services and implement pro-European reforms.

"Instead of sending multi-million (euro) worth consultants to us, probably it makes sense to provide some hard equipment for us to be able to upgrade our customs ability," he said, speaking at the European Policy Centre think-tank here.

The deputy prime minister painted a grim picture of his country's customs service, explaining that there was not even a central electronic databank as the finance ministry has said is necessary.

Ribachuk also called on Brussels to provide "technical assistance" with difficult reforms, which often run up against indifference within the government's bureaucracy.

"Never in their lives, have they been genuinely implementing something... Nobody in Ukraine believes in the seriousness of any (reform) program," he said.

The official also said he hoped that the EU would give his country market economy status by June.