Brussels, 14/09/2006 (Agence Europe) - During the EU/Ukraine Cooperation Council, in Brussels on 14 September, the new Ukrainian Prime Minister, Viktor Yanukovich, confirmed that his country still has a vision, the “strategic goal of belonging to the European Union” and that he is determined to exploit every possibility provided by the EU Neighbourhood Policy to move towards this goal. “We shall move closer to the European Union, not only in declarations but also, and above all, with constructive work and effective reform”, he stressed during a press conference after the meeting. In practical terms, Ukraine will continue to reform its economy “on the basis of European standards” and will gradually adjust its body of law to that of the EU (acquis communautaire), he explained. The action plan for implementing EU Neighbourhood Policy in favour of Ukraine will help to attain these objectives, he added, stressing the need for Kiev to go “from words to deeds” and to “replace Euro-romanticism by Euro-pragmatism”. Yanukovich cited several sectors in which cooperation with the EU has still to be improved, in particular in the fight against corruption in his country, the development of small and medium-sized enterprise and improvement of the investment climate in Ukraine, as well as in facilitating the country's accession to the World Trade Organisation (WTO). “I am optimistic about the vitality of Ukraine-EU relations, a vitality that will grow even stronger with the new bilateral agreement that the EU is to negotiate with Ukraine in 2007” (to replace the current Partnership and Cooperation Agreement that is to expire at the end of next year - see EUROPE 9262), the Prime Minister concluded.
“The most important outcome of this meeting was to take note of the desire of the Ukrainian government to continue its European vocation and of the commitment of the European Union to further deepen its relations with Ukraine” in the framework of a new bilateral agreement which should be negotiated in 2007, said the Finnish foreign minister Erkki Tuomioja, who co-chaired the meeting. “Ukraine is an important partner for us” and the EU is ready to enhance its relations in all areas, he added. Close relations between the EU and Ukraine do not mean that the EU and Ukraine should not each also have good relations with Russia, Mr Tuomioja pointed out.
The Commission's director general for external relations Eneko Landaburu also welcomed the progress made in implementing the neighbourhood policy action plan. “The Ukrainian Prime Minister has given a guarantee and assurance that the aim and the line will be maintained to give this cooperation (as part of the neighbourhood policy) a content and real substance,” he said. “The neighbourhood policy seems to be on course and seems to be able to be brought to a successful conclusion, given the outcome of today's meeting and the commitments undertaken by the Prime Minister,” he concluded. (See related article on the press conference by the Ukrainian Prime Minister and Commissioner Ferrero-Waldner).