On Wednesday 19 June, the European Union and Ukraine decided to extend their Road Transport Agreement until 30 June 2025. Since June 2022, this Agreement has facilitated trade between the EU and Ukraine, giving the latter easier access to international markets at a time when it is suffering the economic cost of the end of trade to the East.
Nevertheless, changes have been made to the Agreement to optimise its implementation. From now on, transport operators will be required to carry a document proving authorisation and compliance with the terms of the Agreement, while at the same time anti-fraud checks will be stepped up. In addition, a safeguard clause now allows the Agreement to be suspended in specific areas in the event of major disturbances attributable to the Agreement.
Since 2022, Ukrainian exports to the EU have increased by two-thirds, with an extra 300,000 tonnes of goods exported every month, while imports have grown three times as fast as exports (in value terms) reaching over €700 million per month. According to the European Commissioner for Transport, Adina Vălean, this is one “of our most important measures in this context [of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, editor’s note], which has proved its success”.
This agreement follows the ‘EU-Ukraine Solidarity Lanes’ initiative, one facet of the EU’s solidarity response to Ukraine. According to Adina Vălean, “as long as Russia continues to attack Ukraine, we will continue to support our friend and neighbour”.
A similar agreement has been signed between the EU and Moldova. (Original version in French by Paul Charles – intern)