Strasbourg, 19/05/2015 (Agence Europe) - At the end of the third trilateral ministerial meeting in Brussels on Monday 18 May (after those of 11 July and 12 September 2014) to take account of Russia's concerns about the impact of the EU-Ukraine free trade agreement (FTA) on the Russian economy, European Commissioner for Trade Cecilia Malmström stated that Russia had not reiterated its request for a postponement in implementing the FTA. The FTA will therefore enter into force on 1 January 2016, as planned.
The entry into force of the FTA on this date, as agreed at the meeting on 12 September, “was not contested by the Russian delegation”, Malmström said at the end of her meeting with Russia's economic development minister Alexei Ulyukayev and Ukraine's foreign minister Pavlo Klimkin.
During the last session of technical level consultations on 20-21 April, Russia has asked for implementation of the EU-Ukraine FTA to be postponed. Implementation of the FTA had already been put back by 15 months under the terms of the agreement on 12 September (see EUROPE 11155) in order to find solutions to Russia's concerns in the framework of the flexibility permitted by the agreement. The trilateral consultations on the EU-Ukraine FTA form part of the Minsk peace agreement on 12 February.
During the course of Monday's meeting, “it was also clear that no amendment would be brought” to this agreement, which is the trade section of the EU-Ukraine association agreement, Malmström stated. Furthermore, the Russian side did not issue “any threat of any sort” as regards possible Russian trade retaliation measures towards Ukraine after the FTA enters into force, Malmström added.
“We didn't raise this issue [Ed: of a postponement] and we think we must use the time we have available as efficiently as possible”, said Ulyukayev, as reported by Russian news agency RIA-Novosti. “I feel moderately optimistic. There are signs that show we understand each other”, he added.
In the joint conclusions, which mention that the EU-Ukraine FTA will enter into force on 1 January 2016, the three parties state that they have agreed to step up their efforts on the technical level in order to find practical solutions to the Russian-raised concerns - in three domains, in particular.
As regards customs cooperation, the three parties will try to maintain and improve the exchange of data and the electronic verification of product-origin. The parties also committed to addressing additional issues, such as the fight against fraud. Furthermore, Ukraine and Russia are committed to considering the start of an update of the rules of origin in the free trade agreement of the Community of Independent States. In addition, the EU is ready to strengthen the informal dialogue on customs cooperation with Russia and to provide the parties with advice and technical expertise.
As regards technical barriers to trade, the three parties agreed to create a working group to develop the harmonisation process further in order to minimise the impact of regulatory changes (the first meeting is planned in two weeks' time). The parties also agreed to consider extending the transition periods for regulatory alignment, should this be necessary, for specific sectors or products, using the flexibility built into the EU-Ukraine FTA.
As regards sanitary and phytosanitary, the parties will consider the preparation of an updated agreement between Russia and Ukraine on bilateral acceptance of veterinary certificates.
The experts will have to report to the ministers in July at the latest. (Emmanuel Hagry)