EU-UKRAINE
Letter from Rt Hon Geoff Hoon MP, Minister
for Europe, Foreign and Commonwealth Office, to the Chairman
On 22 January the General Affairs and External
Relations Council adopted negotiating directives for a new enhanced
agreement between the EU and Ukraine. The Council also adopted
conclusions, which I enclose at Annex A. Negotiations on the new
enhanced agreement are expected to be launched at the EU-Ukraine
Ministerial meeting in Kiev on 6 February.
The negotiating directives are restricted documents
setting out the mandate granted to the Commission to undertake
negotiations with Ukraine on behalf of the Council. As these directives
represent a negotiating position they are not in the public domain
and it is not therefore possible for me to submit them for scrutiny.
I will, however, submit a full Explanatory Memorandum when a draft
Council Decision to conclude the Agreement is submitted to the
Council on completion of the negotiations.
The aim of the forthcoming negotiations will
be to conclude an agreement with Ukraine to replace the existing
Partnership and Co-operation Agreement, which was signed on 14
June 1994. The new enhanced agreement will be comprehensive, reflecting
the existing wide range of co-operation in economic and political
areas and developing these areas further. Wherever possible, it
will go above and beyond existing commitments in the Partnership
and Cooperation Agreement. A key element of the new enhanced agreement
will be the inclusion of a deep and comprehensive free trade agreement.
The Commission will inform the Council on a regular basis on progress
of the negotiations.
The General Affairs and External Relations Council
agreed on 21 February 2005 to negotiate a new enhanced agreement
once Ukraine had fulfilled the main political priorities of its
European Neighbourhood Policy Action Plan. Ukraine was deemed
to have met this requirement following the free and fair conduct
of the March 2006 Parliamentary elections. The Government strongly
supports enhancing the relationship between the EU and Ukraine
as a means of supporting Ukraine's policy of EU integration. We
will support the conclusion of a substantive and enhanced new
agreement that ensures continuing economic and political reform
and leaves the door open to eventual EU accession.
29 January 2007
Annex A
RELATIONS WITH
UKRAINE
Council conclusions
The Council adopted negotiating directives for
a new enhanced agreement between the European Union and Ukraine.
Negotiations are due to be launched at the EU Troika—Ukraine
ministerial meeting on 6 February 2006 in Kiev.
At the same time, the Council adopted the following
conclusions:
"1. The Council and the Commission recall
that the European Union has acknowledged Ukraine's European aspirations
and has welcomed Ukraine's European choice in the Council conclusions
and in the EU-Ukraine Action Plan, both adopted on 21 February
2005. The EU recognises and welcomes the progress Ukraine has
made in consolidating democracy.
2. The Council and the Commission declare that:
— the European Union maintains its
strong commitment to supporting Ukraine's political and economic
reforms, aimed at further strengthening democracy, stability and
prosperity in the country, and wishes to reinforce this commitment
through a new enhanced Agreement;
— through this Agreement, the European
Union aims to build an increasingly close relationship with Ukraine,
aimed at gradual economic integration and deepening ofpolitical
co-operation; and
— a new enhanced Agreement shall not
prejudge any possible future developments in EU-Ukraine relations.
3. The Council and the Commission recall the
conclusions of the European Council of 14-15 December 2006 reaffirming
its resolve to strengthen the European Neighbourhood Policy (ENP)
in order to consolidate a ring of prosperity, stability and security
based on human rights, democracy and the rule of law in the Union's
neighbourhood."
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