Brussels, 14/11/2013 (Agence Europe) - Enlargement Commissioner Stefan Füle made clear on Friday 11 October that Russian pressure on Ukraine to prevent its signing the association agreement will have no effect on the EU's decision on whether or not to sign the agreement at the Eastern Partnership summit in Vilnius at the end of November. “It would be a serious mistake to suppose - in light of the recent unacceptable pressure on Ukraine not to sign the association agreement - that geo-political considerations will determine the European Union's decision”, announced Füle at a round table discussion in Kiev.
A European source told EUROPE on 3 October (see EUROPE 10935) that this pressure was a zero-sum game, with some member states stressing the need for the agreement to be signed to prevent a change of direction from Ukraine and others refusing to be “manipulated” from outside.
Making progress on the Tymoshenko case. Though he said that significant progress had been made on several EU benchmarks, “we're still not quite there”. Improvement is still needed in general election law and the new law on the attorney general's office. The commissioner also highlighted the situation of former prime minister Yulia Tymoshenko. Definite movement was need on the Tymoshenko case, Füle said. “The forthcoming report (due on Tuesday 15 October) drafted by former presidents Cox and Kwasniewski will be of crucial importance for our member states which will assess the progress made by Ukraine”, he added. Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych is working with the EU mission on the Tymoshenko case.
“We are right in the middle of (discussions) that are complicated both politically and legally”, said German Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle, who is on a visit to Ukraine, on 11 October. He noted that “serious attempts and efforts” were being made to resolve the matter. EU foreign ministers will discuss Ukraine at the Council meeting on 21 October. If the agreement is signed, it may be possible to provisionally apply major sections of the association agreement from the first half of 2014, the commissioner said (our translation throughout). (CG/transl.fl)