Brussels, 16/05/2008 (Agence Europe) - On Friday 16 May, Ukraine officially became the WTO's 152nd member. Accession arrangements, which include the report from the Ukraine accession working group, the accession protocol and the list of Ukraine's commitments on market access for goods and services, were adopted by the WTO General Council in February, in the presence of Ukrainian President Viktor Yushchenko. Accession was then ratified by the Ukrainian Parliament on 10 April, with 411 MPs out of 450 voting for. Ukraine can now formally begin its negotiations on a bilateral free trade agreement with the EU, launched in Kiev on 18 February (see EUROPE 9604). Ukraine began the WTO access process in 1993. (E.H.)