Vilnius, 29/11/2013 (Agence Europe) - The EU and Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovich reiterated, on 29 November, during the Eastern Partnership summit in Vilnius, that they were determined to sign the association agreement, an agreement whose preparations have been suspended by Ukraine (see EUROPE 10968). “The EU and Ukraine reiterate their commitment to the signing of this Agreement on the basis of determined action and tangible progress in the three areas emphasised at the (February) 2013 EU-Ukraine Summit”, the final declaration states. It also notes “unprecedented public support for Ukraine's political association and economic integration with the EU”.
Ukraine wants to sign - but not now
Yanukovich is reported in a press release from the Ukrainian presidency to have said: “I confirm Ukraine's intention to sign the association agreement in the near future”. According to diplomats, he hinted that the signing could take place during a forthcoming summit. “The fact that we were forced to break off the signing process in no way means a halt to the reforms in Ukraine necessary for continuing European integration”, he added (our translation). He went on to specify that Ukraine needs the EU's economic and financial support before signing the agreement - but this not forthcoming for now. Ukraine has apparently proposed a roadmap aimed at saying that the EU and Ukraine did not wish to sign the agreement and to set a timetable in place. This was refused by the Europeans, however, as they considered the timeframe too distant and refuted that the EU did not wish to sign the agreement.
Until the very last moment, the European side has sought to convince the Ukrainian president to go back on his decision. The presidents of the European Council, Herman Van Rompuy, and the European Commission, José Manuel Barroso, met the Ukrainian president before the informal dinner and discussions continued during the repast. The president of Lithuania, Dalia Grybauskaite, explained that there was no negotiation on the signing as Yanukovich came with the very clear decision not to sign. In her view, the Ukrainian president did not speak of the agreement but rather of his country's economic difficulties.
The door remains open
The European Union pointed out that the door to signature remains open. The French president, Francois Hollande, said the door would always be open for Ukraine, if that is its desire because it is not for Europe to take the decision for the Ukraine. Van Rompuy said the signature had been postponed, but he hoped that sooner or later Ukraine would be prepared to sign as there was no doubt that this would be beneficial for Ukraine, the Ukrainian economy and the Ukrainian people. Barroso pointed out that the association agreement would enable the Ukrainian government to save €500 million a year in import duty alone. We must continue to work, but there is a difficult path ahead, said the German chancellor, Angela Merkel. Van Rompuy said that dialogue with Kiev would continue.
Van Rompuy urged Ukraine to ignore short-term considerations and pressure from outside, saying that the time for courage and decisions had arrived. We must not give up in the face of pressure from outside, even from Russia, he said. Barroso said that the process of moving closer to the EU was for something - democracy, stability and prosperity, and was not against anyone, because he didn't think anyone could be against democracy, stability or prosperity. The Lithuanian president said that pressure from outside did not excuse Ukraine's decision, pointing out that if you have the political will, then pressure doesn't work and you don't give up.
Extreme criticism of Russia's approach
Europe's leaders were highly critical of Russia. Van Rompuy said that the action by Russia was incompatible with the way international relations worked in the 21st century. Barroso said that Europe couldn't accept a veto from another country and the time of limited sovereignty is a thing of the past in Europe.
The president of the European Commission said that, when you have a bilateral agreement, you don't need a trilateral agreement. Merkel said member states had to take a stronger line about this situation in talks with Russia. Van Rompuy said that the matter would be discussed at the EU-Russia summit at the end of January 2014. (CG/transl.jl/fl)