EC proposes negotiating directives for agreement with Ukraine
15 Sep '06
3 min read
The European Commission (EC) has proposed negotiating directives for a new enhanced agreement with Ukraine to replace the existing Partnership and Co-operation Agreement. The enhanced agreement should take a comprehensive and ambitious approach and include a Free Trade Area.
The proposed negotiating directives will now go the Council of Ministers for approval, with a view to beginning negotiations early in 2007. The decision comes on the eve of the first visit of the new Ukrainian Prime Minister to Brussels.
Prime Minister Viktor Yanukovitch will meet Vice President Guenther Verheugen and Commissioner for External Relations and European Neighbourhood Policy Benita Ferrero-Waldner, and will take part in the EU-Ukraine Co-operation Council.
On the eve of the visit, Commissioner Ferrero-Waldner said: “I am delighted that the Commission has proposed negotiating guidelines for the new agreement, which will help reinforce our partnership with Ukraine.
The new agreement will bring us closer together by stepping up our co-operation in a wide range of areas, including vital topics like energy, justice and security issues, transport and the environment. I hope that it will spur Ukraine on to continue the all important reform efforts which we have begun together”.
Trade Commissioner Peter Mandelson added: "The new agreement will aim to build on Ukraine's forthcoming accession to the WTO with an FTA that creates a strong foundation for closer trade and economic relations between the EU and Ukraine. Harmonising regulation and removing barriers to trade will attract new investment and make it easier for businesses to operate across borders"
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