Copenhagen, 05/07/2002 (Agence Europe) - At the EU/Ukraine Summit on Thursday in Copenhagen, Anders Fogh Rasmussen the Acting President of the Council of Europe declared, "We acknowledged the progress on political and economic reforms in the Ukraine but at the same time we made it clear that a strengthening of Ukraine's democratic institutions, rule of law and market economy is vital for Ukraine's development and for tan intensified relationship with the EU. This statement set the tone to for the meeting, which also discussed issues such as enlargement, co-operation in justice and home affairs and international policy.
In the belief that Union enlargement would open new perspectives in EU/Ukraine relations, as well as new challenges, the Ukraine and EU agreed that the best road for Kiev to follow would be in the context of increased efforts in aligning the Ukraine's legislation with that of the EU. "In the statement we confirm our joint desire to further reinforce our strategic partnership on the basis of the Partnership Co-operation Agreement", confirmed Mr Rasmussen to the press. Ukrainian President, Leonid Koutchma, declared that his country aimed to hold negotiations with the EU in 2011 so that they would be able to join. The Europeans expressed their desire for the Ukraine to join the WTO and become a market economy. The Danish Prime Minister also emphasised that over coming months the Union and the Ukraine would do their best to conclude bi-lateral negotiations on market access.
The EU and Ukraine also exchanged views on the conflict in the Middle East and the situation in Moldova and Byelorussia. They called on the different sides to find a peaceful solution to the conflict in Transnistria and expressed their acute worries over the deteriorating political situation in Byelorussia and the lack of progress in reforms. The EU and Ukraine concluded the meeting with the signature of a co-operation agreement in science and technology.