The Presidents of the European Council and the European Commission, Donald Tusk and Jean-Claude Juncker, will meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to discuss economic cooperation and the conflict in eastern Ukraine, among other issues, on Monday 8 July, at the 21st EU-Ukraine Summit, according to reports released to the press on Friday 5 July.
Economic cooperation
Leaders will discuss the way ahead for EU-Ukraine relations and the next steps in the implementation of the Association Agreement, including the Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area (DCFTA). They will consider, for example, ways to further strengthen regulatory approximation in sectors such as the digital economy, trade facilitation and customs cooperation.
In addition, they will take the opportunity of this summit to welcome the positive results already achieved since the DCFTA entered into force in January 2016. Trade between the two sides has increased by around 50%, leading to the entry of almost 50,000 Ukrainian companies into the EU market and making the EU Ukraine's main trading partner.
Support for Ukrainian reforms
The summit will also provide an opportunity for the EU to acknowledge and reaffirm its support for the substantial progress made by Ukraine in its reform process to fight corruption.
"Decentralisation [a process that aims to reduce the level of corruption in central government through the transfer of power and financial resources to local authorities, editor's note] is one of the areas we see as a success story," said a European official to the press, while also welcoming the appointment of judges to the Ukrainian High Anti-Corruption Court. The official added: "This is an election year. We hope that Ukraine will maintain the pace of reform under its new leadership and after the upcoming parliamentary elections of 21 July”.
Conflict with Russia
The situation in eastern Ukraine will be another major topic of the summit, as the EU recently extended economic sanctions against Russia for six months (see EUROPE 12284/33) and condemned Moscow's decision to issue Russian passports in parts of Donetsk and Lugansk (see EUROPE 12242/2).
Not surprisingly, the EU will reaffirm its support for Ukraine's independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity and condemn Russia's annexation of Crimea.
It will again call on Russia to immediately release the detained Ukrainian sailors, return the seized vessels and ensure free passage through the Kerch Strait.
The EU will also stress, once more, the need for all parties, in particular Russia, to fully respect and implement the Minsk Agreements, while expressing its readiness to play an important role in the reconstruction efforts in the conflict-affected areas of Ukraine, once these agreements have been implemented.
European leaders will furthermore announce the first concrete measures to support the Sea of Azov area, in particular the opening of a project in Marioupol that will strengthen the EU's presence in the region, thus meeting Ukrainian expectations (see EUROPE 12289/5).
Finally, the EU will confirm its support for Ukraine in its fight against cyber-threats and disinformation.
At the end of the summit, which will be attended by the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Federica Mogherini, and the Commissioner for European Neighbourhood Policy, Johannes Hahn, a joint declaration is expected to be adopted. (Original version in French by Damien Genicot - intern)