Outcome of the Trilateral Talks on the Implementation of the EU-Ukraine Association Agreement/Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area
Brussels, 7 September 2015
Joint Operational Conclusions by the
European Commission, the Russian Federation and Ukraine following trilateral
talks on the Implementation of the EU-Ukraine Association Agreement/Deep and
Comprehensive Free Trade Area.
The EU Trade Commissioner Malmström,
Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Klimkin and
Minister of Economic Development of the Russian Federation Ulyukayev
held today in Brussels the fourth round of talks on the EU-Ukraine Association
Agreement/Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area (AA/DCFTA) with a view to
finding practical solutions to Russian concerns about the implementation of the
DCFTA, which will be provisionally applied as of 1 January 2016. This is in
line with the joint statement of 12 September 2014 and taking into account the 12
February 2015 Declaration in support of the "Package of Measures for the
Implementation of the Minsk Agreements."
Taking note of the current unsatisfactory developments
of the trade flows, the participants have reaffirmed their commitment towards
achieving practical arrangements that would contribute to maintaining open
economic relations with a view to enabling economic growth.
During the talks, the participants exchanged views on
the report formulated by experts after the meetings held at technical level on
7-8 June and 4-5 July 2015 on a common understanding on practical solutions to
the concerns raised by Russia.
Taking note of the different views, the
participants agreed to mandate the experts to continue the work at the
technical level with a view to develop a blueprint by October 2015 with
practical solutions to concerns raised by Russia with regard to the
implementation of the DCFTA as reflected in the
joint operational conclusions of 18 May 2015.
The participants agreed to meet again to take stock of
the work in November 2015 to allow for a mutually agreed outcome before the end
of the year.
European Commission