Brussels, 21/11/2013 (Agence Europe) - On 21 November, following a decision from its Prime Minister Mykola Azarov, Ukraine suspended the preparation of its association agreement with the EU - an agreement which could have been signed on 29 November. Azarov's decision stated that it was necessary “to suspend the process of preparing the association agreement between Ukraine and the EU so as to ensure national security, to relaunch economic relations with Russia and to prepare the internal market with relations on an equal footing with the EU”.
The Ukrainian government proposes that the EU and Russia create a tripartite committee with Ukraine to deal with “complex” issues on trade and economic relations, expansion and promotion of international trade, a wider liberalisation of markets, and harmonisation of the regulatory framework to improve implementation conditions for business activities. Ukraine also wants to launch an “active dialogue” with Russia and other members of the customs union and the CIS states “on the resumption of trade and economic relations so as to maintain and strengthen joint efforts of economic potential” (our translation throughout).
Earlier in the day, the Ukrainian parliament rejected the law that would allow detainees - including Ukraine's former prime minister Yulia Tymoshenko - to travel abroad for medical treatment.
European Commissioner for Enlargement and European Neighbourhood Policy Stefan Füle was due to set off for Kiev urgently during the afternoon of 21 November, following the vote. After the decision of the Ukrainian government to suspend preparations, Füle decided not to travel, however. (CG/transl.fl)