Brussels, 23/08/2013 (Agence Europe) - On 22 August Russia's President Vladimir Putin confirmed that the customs union - Russia, Kazakhstan and Belarus - could take measures against Ukraine if Ukraine signs the association agreement with the European Union (see EUROPE 10904). “If our [Ukrainian] neighbours move towards a liberalisation of the customs regime with the EU (…) then the countries of the customs union will have to think about protection measures. This possibility exists”, he said. In Putin's view, the liberalisation of the customs regime between the EU and Ukraine would bring European high quality products that are cheaper to the Ukrainian market, with a negative impact on Ukrainian producers, and consequently on Russian producers. “And this will put our producers in quite a difficult situation”, Putin said.
Russia had already warned Ukraine last week that an association agreement, which includes a deep and comprehensive free trade area agreement (DCFTA) between the EU and Ukraine and which could be signed a the end of November, would lead to a permanent tightening of customs procedures for the entry of Ukrainian products, with a strengthening of border controls.
On 21 August, Commissioner for Enlargement and European Neighbourhood Policy Stefan Füle said it was unacceptable that a link be made between the association agreement and the tightening of customs procedures. He said he was “happy” to see the situation calming down. (CG/transl.fl)