Outcome of the Trilateral Talks on the Implementation of the EU-Ukraine Association Agreement/Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area

Brussels, 1 December 2015

Joint Operational Conclusions by the European Commission, the Russian Federation and Ukraine.

In the framework of the trilateral talks and on the basis of the Joint Ministerial 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", the EU Trade CommissionerMalmström, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Klimkin and Minister of Economic Development of the Russian Federation Ulyukayev have met today for trilateral talks on the implementation of the EU-Ukraine Association Agreement/Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area (DCFTA), which will be provisionally applied as of 1 January 2016.

The consultation process at ministerial level was launched on July 11, 2014. Up to now 13 trilateral meetings, including 4 at ministerial level, have taken place to achieve practical solutions to concerns raised by the Russian Federation with regard to the implementation of the DCFTA between Ukraine and the EU. The ministerial level meetings have provided detailed guidance to the work of experts on the areas related to the implementation of the DCFTA.

Some concerns of the Russian Federation can be addressed in the context of the existing flexibilities available in the DCFTA. For some other concerns solutions can be available in the context of bilateral or trilateral and plurilateral cooperation frameworks.

The participants reiterated that trade liberalisation, in line with World Trade Organisation (WTO) principles and rules, would contribute to economic growth. Thus, it is understood that any practical solutions have to respect the relevant WTO provisions.

Participants have identified a number of potential practical solutions and are ready to continue talks at ministerial and expert levels.

European Commission