Brussels, 17/11/2010 (Agence Europe) - On-going negotiations on the association agreement and a free trade area, economic and political reform in Ukraine, modernisation of the gas transit system towards Europe, relations with Russia and visa liberalisation will be central to discussions at the EU-Ukraine Summit - the first with new President Viktor Yanukovych since his election - in Brussels on Monday 22 November. At least two results are assured: - the signing of a protocol to the partnership and cooperation agreement allowing Ukraine to take part in a number of EU programmes; - and approval of a capacity-building cooperation project co-funded by the EU.
Action plan on visas. A third concrete result is expected but still not guaranteed: the adoption of an action plan for phased visa liberalisation for Ukrainian citizens travelling to the EU (Ed: Ukraine has already removed the visa requirement for European citizens). Talks are continuing and an agreement could be reached by leaders at the summit.
Association agreement and free trade area. Leaders will take stock of the negotiations which, European diplomats report, could be concluded by mid-2011. However, there is a substantial difference of opinion between Kiev and Brussels over this “deep and comprehensive free trade agreement”. Ukraine feels that the EU should contribute to the funding of the reforms the country will have to bring in if it is to comply with the numerous European norms and standards required for free trade with the Union. “The EU should already be allocating money for this in its next multiannual budgetary framework for 2014-2020,” stated Ukrainian Ambassador to the EU Konstiantyn Yelkisieiev. The EU could fund this aid through the “profits” from the increase in trade with Ukraine, he suggested. European diplomats retort that it is Ukraine which wants to adopt the EU trade model (and not vice versa) and that Ukraine will derive huge profits from free access to the “largest market in the world”.
Energy: trilateral meeting with Russia? Modernisation of Ukraine's gas system will be discussed not only at the bilateral summit but in all probability at a trilateral EU-Ukraine-Russia ministerial meeting, which could take place in Brussels on 22 November, diplomats say. (H.B./transl.rt)