Brussels, 21/02/2013 (Agence Europe) - Ukraine will have to make significant progress before May 2013 for the association agreement to be signed at the summit in Vilnius at the end of November 2013, because of internal EU procedures, a European diplomatic source said on 21 February. “Time is short. We will have to able to record substantial progress to be able to continue our internal procedure”, the source said, underlining the three main points highlighted by the EU in its conclusions on 10 December - selective justice, elections and reforms linked to the association agreement. “The date of the month of May is an important milestone in our calendar. The Commission will have to be ready to ask the Council's authorisation for signing the agreement”, the source said. “2013 will be a crucial year in the relationship with Ukraine. We hope that it will be a historic year with the signing of the association agreement with perhaps an application of some sections of this agreement”, the source added, saying also that this is a unique occasion for the EU and Ukraine to move closer together.
The European source said that the EU is assessing the compatibility of EU relations with a possible accession of Ukraine to the customs union with Russia, adding that no information coming from Kiev reveals any plan to join this union. “If Ukraine opts for the customs union, the free trade area with the EU will not be possible. It would call the association agreement into question”, another source stated.
The signing of the association agreement, which is a priority for Ukraine (see EUROPE 10790) will be one of the main points of the EU-Ukraine summit on Monday 25 February that will be attended by President of the European Council Herman Van Rompuy, President of the European Commission José Manuel Barroso, Commissioner for Enlargement and European Neighbourhood Policy Stefan Füle, European Commissioner for Energy Günther Oetthinger, and President of Ukraine Viktor Yanukovych.
Financial assistance of €610 million. The summit is also due to be marked by the signing of macro-economic assistance up to €610 million, which is conditional on a stand-by agreement with the IMF, the European source stated. The seventh report on the implementation of energy cooperation, and an arrangement on establishing an informal business climate dialogue are also due to be signed.
In addition, the summit will also be the occasion to review the management of public finances and reform of the Ukrainian administration. Discussions on energy are also planned, with Ukraine being a strategic EU partner in the transfer of gas and a member of the energy community. Mobility, with the latest developments on implementing an action plan on visa liberalisation and ratifying the amended agreement on visa facilitation, is also on the agenda.
Lunch will be dedicated to foreign relations, including the prevention of conflicts - especially the issue of Transnistria, and also relations with Russia and Belarus, and to the current Ukrainian presidency of the OSCE. (CG/transl.fl)