Brussels, 06/02/2007 (Agence Europe) - The EU-Ukraine Troika was able to officially open new negotiations on Tuesday over a new, beefed up, Partnership and Cooperation Agreement to replace the current agreement which expires in March 2008. The new agreement will cover issues like energy, the economy, justice, law and a potential free trade zone. The first working group meeting will be held early in March 2007, explained German foreign minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier after a meeting with the Ukrainian prime minister Viktor Yanukovych. Yanukovych said he wanted to speed up the reform process but regretted that there had not been any mention of Ukraine joining the EU: 'There was a certain amount of disappointment among citizens of Ukraine,' he said, referring to the EU foreign ministers' decision when endorsing the European Commission's negotiating mandate a fortnight ago not to consider Ukraine joining the EU (see EUROPE 9349). In its conclusions, the Council of the EU took note of Ukraine's European aspirations and its 'European choice', being at pains to stress that the new strengthened agreement would not prejudge the future development of relations between the EU and Ukraine. Yanukovych said on Tuesday that joining the EU should remain open to all European states 'that respect the rule of law', but Steinmeier simply said that the EU saw the Ukraine as a 'unique and important' country in its Neighbourhood Policy.
Benita Ferrero-Waldner was unable to be part of the EU-Ukraine Troika due to illness and Javier Solana was unable to attend either (en route to Belgrade). The official visit comes as the Ukrainian parliament was confirming the appointment of interim Ukrainian foreign minister Volodymyr Ogryzko, a pro-Western diplomat backed by President Viktor Yushchenko to replace Boris Tarassiouk, removed from office under pressure from Viktor Yanukovych's pro-Russian government. The German Presidency of the Council of the EU has announced that the German Chancellor, Angela Merkel, will be meeting President Yuschenko in Berlin on 8 February to discuss the EU's relations with Ukraine, bilateral relations and other international issues. (ab)