Relations EU/Ukraine: common strategy

PURPOSE : to establish a common strategy with regard to Ukraine. CONTENT : The European Council has established the following principal objectives: - to contribute to the emergence of a stable, open and pluralistic democracy in the Ukraine, governed by the rule of law and underpinning a stable functioning market economy which will benefit all the people of Ukraine; - to cooperate with Ukraine in the maintenance of stability and security in Europe and the wider world, and in finding effective responses to common challenges facing the continent; -to increase economic, political and cultural cooperation with Ukraine as well as cooperation in the field of justice and home affairs; The means to be used include appropriate use of all relevant instruments available to the Union. There will also be co-ordination between Member States and between Member States and Community institutions. A number of specific initiatives will be pursued: - the consolidation of democracy, the rule of law and public institutions in Ukraine, by means which include supporting efforts to abolish the death penalty, promote good governance, an effective legal system, and the development of free media, - support of the economic transition process by enhancing the impact of economic policy advice, and examining the possibility of providing technical assistance, - cooperation to strengthen stability and security in Europe, amongst other means, by exploring the possibilities of establishing regular expert level Troika dialogue meetings with Ukraine within the margins of CFSP working groups on disarmament and non-proliferation, - cooperation in the field of environment, energy and nuclear safety, notably by supporting Ukraine in its effort to reduce the negative impact on public health of the environmental situation, and reform of the energy sector, - support for Ukraine's integration into European and world economy, including support for efforts to meet requirements for WTO accession, - cooperation in the field of justice and home affairs, a particularly important area given Ukraine's position as an important transit country providing a conduit for the cross-border flow of a wide range of non-legal activities, - regional and cross-border cooperation with neighbouring countries, - cooperation in the fields of culture, twinning and exchange programmes. The Common Strategy will apply for four years from the date of its publication.�