Strengthening ties with the eu
30 January 2008
Published in
Inform
issue #61
See the full issue here.
Ukrainian Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko presented the key provisions of her cabinet’s programme to EU officials on 28-29January. During what was her first visit to Brussels since securing her premiership, Ms Tymoshenko met with leading figures including the European Commission President José Manuel Barroso and the President of the European Parliament Hans-Gert Pottering. The key points discussed included:
See the full issue here.
Ukrainian Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko presented the key provisions of her cabinet’s programme to EU officials on 28-29January. During what was her first visit to Brussels since securing her premiership, Ms Tymoshenko met with leading figures including the European Commission President José Manuel Barroso and the President of the European Parliament Hans-Gert Pottering. The key points discussed included:
- The Tymoshenko Transparency Initiative, a new comprehensive initiative to improve Ukraine’s investment climate by introducing European standards of business and government transparency;
- The launch of negotiations between Ukraine and the EU to advance towards a comprehensive Free Trade Agreement once Ukraine becomes a WTO member;
- The advancement of a visa liberalisation dialogue with the EU and a future visa-free travel regime between Ukraine and the EU;
- The deepening cooperation between Ukraine and the EU in the sphere of energy, including the diversification of energy supply, energy security, and upgrading Ukraine’s transit capacity.
Mr Barroso stressed the need for political stability based upon democracy and the rule of law and welcomed the Tymoshenko-government’s reform programme, which brings Ukraine closer to the 27-nation bloc.
"We are confident that political stability can become a reality in the Ukraine," Mr Barroso said, before adding, "Ukraine is getting closer and closer to the European Union."
Mr Barroso mentioned that talks on establishing the Free Trade Agreement were likely to take place in a matter of weeks now that Ukraine is about to join the WTO. The latter is scheduled to take place on 7 February.
The EU remains Ukraine’s largest market and trading partner with some €26.6 billion ($39.3 billion) worth of bilateral trade in 2006.
Ms Tymoshenko said that entry into the WTO was a way of improving her country’s integration into the international community but underlined that it should not be used to put pressure on any country. The new administration is keen to strengthen relations with Russia based upon mutual cooperation and respect.
Speaking to the head of the European parliament, Ms Tymoshenko said, “I would like to thank European parliamentarians for supporting the reform process in Ukraine. The European Parliament has always supported democratic changes in Ukraine and I’m confident that we’ll have such support in future.”