On Tuesday 11 July, the Council adopted a decision, on behalf of the EU, to conclude the association agreement with Ukraine. This decision is the final step in the ratification process for the agreement, which will fully enter into force on 1 September.
While several political and sectoral parts of this agreement, and of the deep and comprehensive free trade agreement, have been applied provisionally since 1 September 2014 and 1 January 2016, the full entry into force "will now give a new impetus to the cooperation in areas such as foreign and security policy, justice, freedom and security (including migration) taxation, public finance management, science and technology, education and information society", the Council states in a press release.
Adoption of this decision comes ahead of the EU-Ukraine summit in Kiev on 12-13 July. This summit will provide the opportunity for the two parties to discuss the progress that has been made in their relations since the last summit on 24 November (see EUROPE 11675). "We are at a very positive moment in our relationship", a European source said on Monday 10 July, adding that in addition to the association agreement, the visa-free regime had been in force since 11 June. "The summit will be the opportunity to reconfirm Ukraine's greater political association and economic integration with the EU", the source said.
The presidents of the European Commission, Jean-Claude Juncker, and European Council, Donald Tusk, and Ukraine's President Petro Poroshenko are expected to speak about the provisional application of the association agreement and deep and comprehensive free trade agreement. By way of example, trade in goods increased 30% in the first quarter of 2017 compared with the first quarter of 2016.
The leaders will also discuss many reforms undertaken in Ukraine. The EU expects progress in the fight against corruption and in the implementation of the new law on the management and privatisation of public companies.
The country's security situation, especially the implementation of the Minsk agreements on the conflict in eastern Ukraine, and the annexation of Crimea, are due to be broadly addressed, with the EU having recently prolonged its sanctions both on Crimea and in connection with the conflict in the east. The leaders may also speak about the support the EU could give to conflict-affected regions in eastern Ukraine in order to help keep the population in place. In particular, the EU may finance projects linked to small farms or small and medium-sized companies, according to a European source. "It's not about rebuilding but about helping the people have prospects, and not moving towards the east of the country", the source added.
Foreign policy issues are also due to be addressed, especially in connection with the Eastern Partnership summit that will take place in Brussels on 24 November. (Original version in French by Camille-Cerise Gessant)