Brussels, 08/10/2003 (Agence Europe) - During the seventh EU/Ukraine Summit on Tuesday in Yalta, the Ukraine was called on to continue economic, political and institutional reforms for meeting EU criteria. The President of the European Council, Silvio Berlusconi and Ukrainian President, Leonid Koutchma approved a joint declaration at the end of the summit to which the President of the European Commission, Romano Prodi and the High Representative for the EU for CFSP, Javier Solana also contributed. The two parties signed an agreement renewing the technical and scientific cooperation agreement between the EU and Ukraine.
Silvio Berlusconi repeated that the Ukraine, "shared the values of European civilisation" and again declared that the country would, "one day become a member of the European Union" but did not set a date, indicated AFP. The Ukrainian President considered that his country was, "not ready to integrate European structures". While reviewing the disagreements on certain cases with his European partner, Mr Koutchma said that the summit represented, "a step towards enlargement" of the EU. Asked about the recently signed agreement between the Ukraine, Russia, Byelorussia and Kazakhstan, which aims to create a common economic area and which has raised worries among European leaders, Romano Prodi explained that the rapprochement between the Ukraine and Russia did, "not constitute an obstacle". Javier Solana expressed worries about the Odessa-Brody pipeline, which was supposed to send crude oil from the Caspian Sea to Europe but Russia wants to used it for sending its oil to the Black Sea. Mr Solana also indicated that questions on the freedom of the press had been raised with the Ukraine. The Human Rights Watch NGO had called on European authorities to put pressure on the Ukraine to respect human rights and notably of freedom of the press.
The joint declaration notes that the "Ukraine reiterated its long term strategic objective of being totally integrated into the European Union". The two sides discussed the new EU Wider Europe neighbourhood policy after its enlargement, which aims to facilitate the gradual participation of these countries to the internal market and the policies and programmes of the EU. Nevertheless, the EU's position is clear: "the EU position on this initiative "should be seen as separate from the question of possible EU accession that is regulated by article 49 of the treaty on European Union". While welcoming the progress made for implementing a partnership and association agreement (PAC), the two sides underlined the need to intensify efforts in certain areas. The declaration welcomes the setting up of the State Council on European and Euroatlantic Integration of Ukraine and the country's aspiration to reinforce its institutional capacity. The declaration noted that strengthening and ensuring the stability of institutions guaranteeing democracy, the rule of law and respect for human rights is of "vital importance" for Ukraine's development and for an intensified relationship with the EU, as well as for ensuring the commitment of the country to reform its legal system and administrative capability for guaranteeing civil society and freedom of the press.
At an economic level the declaration acknowledged the progress by the Ukraine but also pointed out the importance of reforming the taxation system in the banking sector. The Ukrainian government was encouraged to ensure non-discriminatory treatment of foreign investors and agreed to continue our efforts to remove remaining trade restrictions. The two parties welcomed the increase in bilateral trade relations and the conclusion of a protocol n access to their respective markets in the perspective of the Ukraine's accession to the World Trade Organisation (WTO). The EU and Ukraine stress the importance of integrating their infrastructure networks in the energy and transport sectors. In this connection, the Ukraine repeated its desire to see the European Investment Bank (EIB) mandate extended. The declaration also emphasises the need to reform the country's energy sector and to complete the Odessa-Brody-Prock pipeline.
The EU and the Ukraine insist on the need to reinforce their cooperation: in nuclear safety: in order to calm European worries, the Ukraine has ensured that the new reactors in Rivne and Khmelnytsky, "K/R4" will be completed according to the internationally accepted safety standards; in the environmental area; justice and home affairs (readmission, immigration, border management, organised crime, fight against all kinds of trafficking. Repeating the need to find a peaceful resolution of the conflict in Transnistria (secessionist republic of Moldova), the Ukraine and the EU welcomed the customs cooperation between the Ukraine and Moldova, as well as Ukrainian efforts to strengthen border controls with Moldova.