By Martin Banks - 19th December 2011
The EU has given a guarded thumbs up to closer economic and trade ties with Ukraine after concluding negotiations on a 'landmark' association agreement.
The move was heralded as a "giant step forward" for future relations between the two sides by European council president Herman van Rompuy.
But, speaking at a news conference in Kiev on Monday, he also cautioned that progress must be made on several issues before the agreement can be formally signed.
These include implementation of measures to improve the rule of law and independence of the judiciary in Ukraine.
Van Rompuy said that parliamentary elections in Ukraine next March will be a "litmus test" of the country's readiness to forge ahead with closer EU ties.
Commission president José Manuel Barroso, who also took part in the talks along with EU enlargement commissioner Stefan Füle, welcomed the announcement that negotiations had finally been concluded, saying this was of "major importance" to both the EU and Ukraine.
Both Van Rompuy and Barroso were speaking after negotiations on an association agreement were concluded at an EU-Ukraine summit in Kiev.
As expected, the two sides did not 'initial' the deal, although this is expected to take place sometime next year.
The deal will then be subject to ratification by both the European parliament and member state governments.
In October, parliament adopted a resolution in support of an association agreement with Ukraine although MEPs warned that failure to review the conviction of former Ukraine leader Yulia Tymoshenko would jeopardise the conclusion of the agreement.
An EU official told this website that, when signed, the agreement will serve as a means for Ukraine to "comprehensively approach the EU standards and meet the EU membership criteria".
Leaders from both sides also made progress at the summit on talks designed to make it easier for people from Ukraine to obtain visas to visit EU countries.
They also agreed to "further deepen" cooperation between Ukraine and the EU in areas such as energy and transportation.
The talks on Monday took place against the backdrop of what Van Rompuy called a "difficult atmosphere" between the EU and Ukraine and a perceived ‘decline’ in democracy in Ukraine.
He said this has been partly caused by what some perceived to be "politically-motivated justice" in the country, with the "most striking example" being the case of ex-prime minister Tymoshenko, who was jailed for seven years for acting beyond her powers over a 2009 gas deal.
The EU says her trial was politically motivated, a claim denied by Kiev.
Van Rompuy said that several "shortcomings" still had to be addressed by Ukraine, including freedom of assembly and media freedom.
Pro-Tymoshenko supporters staged a noisy demonstration outside the presidential offices in Kiev where the summit was held and Van Rompuy told journalists that the Tymoshenko case had been raised during the talks.
He said the summit had been an opportunity to "take stock" of bilateral relations with Ukraine and to agree priorities for the future.
"There have recently been major developments between the two sides, some positive but others which have given cause for concern," he said.
"The conclusion of talks on an association agreement is a giant step forward and of decisive importance for Ukraine’s progress towards modernisation, prosperity and the realization of its EU membership ambitions."
He said the EU hopes the agreement can be signed "as soon as possible" but added, "This will depend on the political circumstances."
Barroso said the deal, which had taken four years to broker and which came after "difficult" negotiations, was a "great chance to seal relations and bring the EU and Ukraine closer".
He too, however, voiced concern at what he said some saw as "selective justice" in Ukraine against former government members in the country, "notably" Tymoshenko.
He said, "This was a major summit and the EU has made clear its support for Ukraine's European vocation but the speed of implementation of this association agreement depends on Ukraine."
Addressing the same news conference, Ukrainian president Viktor Yanukovych described the agreement as a "landmark" occasion, adding, "It is not only a paper document but a key instrument towards achieving Ukraine's 'goal' of one day joining the EU.
"The talks have been complicated but I am pleased to say that after frank and constructive discussions today they have been successfully completed."
