Brussels, 14/09/2006 (Agence Europe) - Ukraine wishes to have “excellent and stable” relations with the EU leading to accession in the long term. This policy has full support from a majority of Ukraine's citizens, the new prime minister, Viktor Yankovich, told the press on 14 September during his first visit to Brussels (see related article on Cooperation Council). Benita Ferrero-Waldner, External Relations Commissioner, recalled that “membership is not an issue”. She went on to add that “the future is not prejudged but, at this moment, clearly there is no membership perspective”. She said she felt very encouraged by the efforts made by the Ukrainian government for its accession to the WTO, and was confident that this would be possible “by the end of the year”.
Accession is necessary to begin talks with Kiev on the more ambitious cooperation agreement that the Commission proposed on Wednesday, she explained (EUROPE 9264). Furthermore, she pointed out that an “aide mémoire” on EU/Ukraine energy cooperation will pave the way to greater transparency and to the financing of investment in infrastructure projects in the oil and gas sector in Ukraine, mainly by EIB and EBRD. The “aide mémoire” provides for “new financial mechanisms improving the new EU/Ukrainian energy strategy, diversification of oil and gas supply and the launching of interesting projects”, Yanukovich commented.