Joint Press Release following the Association Council meeting between the European Union and Ukraine
The EU-Ukraine
Association Council held its second meeting on Monday 7 December 2015 in
Brussels.
The Association
Council took stock of developments in EU-Ukraine relations since the first
Association Council held in December 2014 and welcomed the significant progress
realised since. Both sides reaffirmed the
significance they attach to the partnership, as well as their continued
commitment to deepening the political association and economic integration of
Ukraine with the EU on the basis of respect for common values and their
effective promotion.
The Association
Council welcomed the ratification of the Association Agreement by a large
majority of Member States and looked forward to its full entry into force.
Ukraine and the EU will
provisionally apply the Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area (DCFTA) part of
the Association Agreement as of 1 January 2016. Ukraine and the EU agreed on
the need to ensure full compliance with the commitments undertaken in the
context of the DCFTA, including by further enhancing Ukraine's preparatory
efforts. The Association Council also took stock of the trilateral talks on
DCFTA implementation. The EU and Ukraine reiterated their readiness to continue
talks at the ministerial and expert levels by using the flexibilities offered
by the DCFTA. They underlined that any solutions found must respect relevant
WTO provisions and commitments.
The EU welcomed
substantial progress in implementing reforms that have been achieved this year
in particular the launch of work of the National Anti-Corruption Bureau and new
national police, completion of the selection process of the Anti-Corruption
Prosecutor, adoption by Verkhovna Rada
in the first reading of amendments to the Constitution on decentralisation
and adoption of the law "On natural gas market" aimed at bringing the
gas sector of Ukraine in compliance with the Third Energy Package.
The EU welcomed the
strong political commitment of the Ukrainian authorities to bring the reform process forward, despite
the challenges faced by the country, notably the conflict in eastern Ukraine.
The Association
Council acknowledged the importance of swift and thorough implementation, and
enforcement, of new policies and legislative frameworks and of further
acceleration of political and economic reforms in the following areas in the
short term:
constitution;
fight against
corruption;
justice system;
public
administration;
electoral
legislation;
decentralisation;
civilian security
sector;
energy;
public finance
management;
business climate.
The Association
Council recognised that reforms have to be made first
and foremost in the interest of Ukrainian people.
The EU reiterated its
firm commitment to a political and peaceful solution to the conflict in eastern
Ukraine based on the respect for Ukraine's independence, sovereignty and
territorial integrity, including through the complete implementation by all
sides of the Minsk agreements. In this regard, the Association Council endorsed
all diplomatic efforts within the Normandy format and the Trilateral Contact
Group, and recalled that the duration of EU economic restrictive measures
against the Russian Federation is linked to the complete implementation of the
Minsk agreements. Furthermore, it expressed concern over the recent increase in
the number and gravity of cease-fire violations, and stressed that all hostages
and illegally detained persons related to the conflict in eastern Ukraine,
including Nadiya Savchenko
should be released, in accordance with the Minsk agreements.
The Association
Council highlighted the need to continue addressing the humanitarian situation
resulting from theconflict and encouraged Ukraine to
facilitate the delivery of humanitarian aid into conflict-affected areas as
well as to comprehensively address the rights and longer term needs of
Internally Displaced Persons. The EU expressed its willingness to step-up its
support to de-mining activities in eastern Ukraine.
The Association
Council expressed concern over the deterioration of the human rights situation
in the Crimean peninsula, including that of the Crimean Tatar communityand called for the provision of full, free and
unrestricted access to the Autonomous Republic of Crimea and the City of
Sevastopol to international human rights actors. The EU reiterated its demand
for the immediate release of Mr Sentsov
and Mr Kolchenko and their
safe return to Ukraine. The EU recalled that it does not recognise
and continues to condemn the illegal annexation of Crimea and Sevastopol by the
Russian Federation.
Ukraine and the EU
took stock of the progress made in relation to the respect of human rights and
fundamental freedoms, and agreed on the need for continued efforts. The EU
welcomed the good overall conduct of the local elections held on 25 October
2015, demonstrating progress in the respect for democratic principles.
The Association
Council welcomed the progress made so far by Ukraine towards visa liberalisation. Both sides looked forward to the next
progress report on the implementation of the Visa Liberalisation
Action Plan, which will be published later this month.
The Association
Council welcomed the first signs of economic stabilization in Ukraine and
called for a continued implementation of sound macroeconomic and financial
policies.
The Association
Council acknowledged the significant financial support of over €7 billion by
the EU and European Financial Institutions provided since 2014. Itunderlined that this financial support is helping Ukraine
stabilize its economy, reforming it in line with international standards and
improving the livelihoods of its citizens over time.
The Association
Council welcomed the adoption on 2December 2015 of a new EU programme
in support of decentralisation worth €97 million
(€90M from the EU budget, €6M from Germany and €1M from Poland), as well the
complementary support under the Instrument contributing to Stability and Peace
for the restoration of governance and peacebuilding
in the eastern part of Ukraine worth €10 million.
The Association
Council also welcomed the signing of the Administrative Arrangement between the
European Defence Agency and the Ministry of Defence of Ukraineby the High
Representative Federica Mogherini in her capacity as
Head of the European Defence Agency and the Minister
of Defence of Ukraine Stepan
Poltoraktoday.
Both sides looked
forward to putting into practice the enhanced mandate of the EU Advisory
Mission for Civilian Security Sector Reform (EUAM Ukraine) aiming at better
responding to Ukraine's needs in its efforts to reform the country's civilian
security sector, taking into account current security challenges. The
Association Council also noted the recent extension by two years of the
European Commission Border Assistance Mission to the Republic of Moldova and to
Ukraine (EUBAM), as well as the agreement signed enhancing the mission's
mandate in respect to border and customs related aspects of the Association
Agreements and the implementation of the DCFTAs.
As additional
demonstration of deepening relations, the Association Council welcomed
Ukraine's accession to Creative Europe and progress towards the accession of
Ukraine to the EU Programme for the Competitiveness
of Enterprises and Small and Medium-sized Enterprises, COSME as well as the
shared aim to open negotiations toprovide
satellite-based Augmentation Services in Ukraine based on the European
satellite Navigation Programme EGNOS. Both sides
positively assessed the progress made towards the association of Ukraine to the
Euratom Research and Training Programme
2014-2018 complementing the EU Programme on Research
and Innovation “Horizon 2020”, which will allow an effective association from 1
January 2016 onwards.
The Association
Council welcomed the energy reforms initiated this year, in particular in the
gas sector, and underlined the need to finalise the
legislative framework on energy regulation and on electricity market. Both
sides expressed readiness to continue cooperation on energy efficiency and the modernisation and operation of the Ukrainian gas
transportation system and on storages and on securing gas supplies between
Ukraine and the EU. Ukraine and the EU looked forward to the launching of the
negotiations on a Memorandum of Understanding for a Strategic Energy
Partnership.
Recalling the
commitment made in the 17th EU-Ukraine Summit and the latest Summit of the
Eastern Partnership in Riga to conclude the EU-Ukraine Agreement on Common
Aviation Area, as referred to in the Association Agreement, at the earliest
possible date in 2015, the EU renewed its commitment to a prompt signature of
the Agreement.
The Association
Council welcomed the joint Communication of the High Representative and the
Commission on the European Neighbourhood Policy (ENP)
review adopted on 18 November and committed to its implementation stressing the
non-confrontational nature of the ENP. It will be the subject of further
discussion in 2016, while work will continue on the basis of existing
contractual arrangements. Differentiation and enhanced ownership will be the
hallmark of the reviewed ENP.
Finally, Ukraine and
the EU stressed the importance of effective strategic communication and agreed
to close cooperation to this end, including through the newly established EU
Strategic Communications Task Force focused on the Eastern Neighbourhood
and beyond.
The meeting was
chaired by Mr Arseniy Yatsenyuk, Prime Minister of Ukraine. Ukraine was also
represented by ministries of Foreign Affairs, Economic Development and Trade,
Justice and Defence. The EU was represented by the
High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Federica Mogherini and the Commissioner responsible for European NeighbourhoodPolicy and Enlargement Negotiations, Johannes
Hahn
European Council