Brussels, 28/08/2013 (Agence Europe) - Ukraine's secretary of national security and of the defence council, Andriy Klyuyev, who also coordinates Ukrainian activities in the area of European integration, said at a meeting with Commissioner for Enlargement and European Neighbourhood Policy Stefan Füle in Brussels on 27 August that the Ukrainian government “is doing everything possible for the association agreement with the EU” to be signed at the summit in Vilnius at the end of November. However, he also said that he wants to deepen Ukraine's relations with Russia. “We plan to preserve and continue to deepen our relations and the integration process with Russia and other Eurasian countries (…)”, he said. Russia is currently threatening a permanent tightening of customs procedures on products re-entering Ukraine if the association agreement is signed (see EUROPE 10906).
At the European Parliament's foreign affairs committee on 28 August - a committee which has criticised Russia's attitude - the Ukrainian ambassador to the EU, Kostiantyn Yelisieiev, said that Russia's action is “harmful for everyone, the EU and Ukraine”. He wanted the EU to combine moral and political support to Ukraine, and emphasised signature of the association agreement. “We must step up the contact between the leader of the European Union, the member states, Ukrainians and Russians”, he added. In the view of two member of the Ukrainian opposition, Vitaliy Klitschko and Arseniy Yatsenuik, these threats are primarily geopolitical. “There is nothing commercial. This is geopolitical. It's a challenge that Ukraine and the EU must face together, to react in common and firmly”, Yatsenuik said.
With Klyuyev on 27 August, Füle recalled that “any outside pressure on Ukraine linked to its ambition to sign the association agreement with the EU is not acceptable”. He stated that this agreement will not be to the detriment of Ukraine's relations with Russia or other neighbouring countries. And we firmly believe that it will bring benefits for all”.
Making progress on reforms in order to sign agreement in November. During their meeting, which Füle described as “complete and technical”, Füle and Klyuyev discussed the progress and the problems outstanding, including resolution of the exceptional case of selective justice and the continuation of reforms in the judicial system, the improvement of electoral legislation, the setting of dates for the elections in five single-member constituencies, and clear rules for the balanced access of the candidates to the media.
Füle spoke of the legislative work needed for the beginning of autumn, in order for the member states to be able to then give their agreement or not to the signing of the agreement at the summit in Vilnius at the end of November. “Much legislative work must be carried out over the coming weeks so as to implement the EU criteria in time for the EU's proper assessment before the summit in Vilnius”, Füle said. The Ukrainian parliament and parties that are represented in it “will play a crucial role in the overall process”, he added.
Klyuyev stressed Ukraine's efforts in fulfilling the EU criteria, highlighting the adoption of many measures between April and June, and the preparation of new laws - such as the change of the constitution on the high court of justice, amendments to the electoral law and guarantees to increase the independence of the judicial system - laws that he hopes will be adopted “in September”. He added that the Ukrainian government is working on the law on the system of application of the law, with the issue of the office of the general prosecutor. Füle welcomed the process of preparation of the reform on the functioning of the office of the general prosecutor and the organisation of round tables on the improvement of electoral legislation. “At the same time, the EU is waiting to see unambiguous and concrete progress in the coming weeks”, he added.
Faced with the EU's concern at the investment climate, Klyuyev highlighted Kiev's efforts. Füle also explained the EU's concerns about the recent adoption of the law on the introduction of car recycling charges which is due to come into force on 1 September. (CG/transl.fl)