Brussels, 19/04/2011 (Agence Europe) - The EU and Ukraine are making significant headway towards the conclusion of an association agreement in 2011. Commission President Barroso and President Yanukovych of Ukraine see 2011 as a decisive year for the future of bilateral relations.
Meeting in Kiev on Monday 18 April on the sidelines of events focusing on nuclear safety to mark the 25th anniversary of the Chernobyl disaster, the President of the European Commission, José Manuel Barroso, and the Ukrainian Head of State, Viktor Yanukovych, noted “significant progress” in talks over an EU-Ukraine association agreement, which they said they were determined to conclude before the end of this year, even though, as the head of the European executive acknowledged, “much work remains to be done”, as regards the bilateral free-trade agreement in particular, which includes a chapter on energy and provides for all export duties to be scrapped. “This treaty, and the increased trade and modernisation that it will bring, will deliver important benefits to citizens in Ukraine and the EU”, he told the press, stressing also the “importance of political aspects of the treaty”. “Common values - human rights, democratic principles and the rule of law - are the fundament of our relationship, and they are critical for Ukraine's future development, as is a cross-party consensus on the reform agenda. Once more we had an open dialogue on these issues", said Mr Barroso, adding that he had also stressed the need for Kiev to improve its business climate and investment framework. “Ukraine's prosperity depends on being open, competitive and innovative. So moving on that front is clearly in its very own interest”, the Commission president stressed. Barroso also pledged to support Ukraine's efforts over visas. Lastly, on the energy chapter, the head of the European executive welcomed Ukraine's recent accession to the Energy Community, which makes it a stakeholder of the single market for energy, and the signature on Monday of a cooperation agreement on nuclear safety, worth €48 million. “If we maintain our current head of steam in negotiations, we will be able to approve a joint version of the (association) agreement text before our next bilateral summit in December”, said President Yanukovych. However, Barroso warned that creating a free-trade zone between the EU and Ukraine would be “incompatible” with Kiev joining a customs union with Belarus and Russia.
The EU is Ukraine's largest trade partner. In 2010, its exports to Ukraine were worth €17 billion, whilst imports from the former USSR republic were worth €11 billion. As the source of 75% of DFI in Ukraine, the EU is also the country's largest investor. (E.H./transl.fl)