Enhanced agreement EC-Ukraine: negotiation mandate

Michał Tomasz Kamiński (UEN, Poland) drafted, on behalf of the UEN Group, a recommendation to the Council, pursuant to Rule 114 (1) of the Rules of Procedure, on a negotiation mandate for a new enhanced agreement between the European Community and Ukraine.

The recommendation recalls that Ukraine has strong historical, cultural and economic links to the European Union and whereas it is the EU’s key partner in its Eastern neighbourhood. It also welcomes the country's efforts to put the principles of European integration into practice and the cooperation with the European Union resulting from the Partnership and Cooperation Agreement which has been one of the key factors in bringing Ukraine to establish accession to the European Union as the main objective of its foreign and domestic policy.

The recommendation confirms that Ukraine is currently in a transition period that is decisive for the long-term stabilisation of the country, for safeguarding of democracy, pluralism and the rule of law and for anchoring Ukraine in the European democratic community.

This is why the recommendation welcomes the Council’s decision to open negotiations on a new agreement aimed at deepening political cooperation and at achieving the economic integration of Ukraine into the European Union.

The recommendation also calls on the Council to:

-          to ensure that one of the principal objectives of the enhanced agreement is to base the relationship between the European Union and Ukraine on shared respect for fundamental European values;

-          to ensure that the Free Trade Area, to become part of the enhanced agreement following Ukraine's accession to the WTO, is accompanied by efforts to align Ukraine, as close as possible, with the acquis communautaire;

-          to pay due attention to Ukraine's role in ensuring transport of energy supplies to a significant part of the European Union energy market, and to support the progressive integration of the Ukrainian energy market with that of the EU.

The Council, the Commission, the Member States and Ukraine to take all possible steps to conclude the negotiations within a year.

Lastly, the recommendation asks the Council and the Commission to keep the committee responsible regularly and thoroughly informed of the progress of negotiations.