Policy Focus

Ukraine to be granted EU ‘association’ agreement

EU foreign ministers have agreed that a new pact to be signed with Ukraine should be called an ‘association’ agreement, dashing Ukrainian hopes for assurances on EU membership.

The Ukrainian government has repeatedly said that it wants a membership perspective and the possibility of a visa-free dialogue written into the preamble for any new agreement.

Announcing the decision, EU external relations chief Benita Ferrero-Waldner said 'association' goes beyond the current partnership agreement but does not “prejudge the future”, adding that the EU will give “all chances” to Ukraine’s European aspirations.

“Ukraine has a lot to do to stabilise national politics,” she said. “There are frictions between the president and the prime minister.”

She added that while the EU is not opposed to opening a dialogue on visa-free travel with Ukraine, it will not be part of the new agreement, but can operate “in parallel” with talks on the pact.

Ukrainian and EU officials are currently in their ninth round of talks on the new agreement, which will include a free trade area if Ukraine makes progress on economic and political reforms.

Ukraine’s deputy foreign minister Kostiantyn Yelisieiev told TheParliament.com last week that the European neighbourhood policy, the current framework governing EU-Ukraine relations, is “unacceptable” and brings no added value to Ukraine.

The two sides will meet on 9 September in Evian for a summit to discuss further progress on the agreement.