Misplaced Pages

European Union–Ukraine Association Agreement: Difference between revisions

Article snapshot taken from Wikipedia with creative commons attribution-sharealike license. Give it a read and then ask your questions in the chat. We can research this topic together.
Browse history interactively← Previous editNext edit →Content deleted Content addedVisualWikitext
Revision as of 16:01, 11 January 2016 editCaballero1967 (talk | contribs)Autopatrolled, Extended confirmed users, Pending changes reviewers14,474 edits Reverted 1 good faith edit by 84.240.11.5 using STiki← Previous edit Revision as of 06:06, 12 January 2016 edit undoPiznajko (talk | contribs)Extended confirmed users2,229 editsNo edit summaryNext edit →
Line 28: Line 28:
The political provisions of the treaty were signed on 21 March 2014 after a series of events that had stalled its ratification culminated ] and the ousting of the then incumbent ], ].<ref name=signed>{{cite web|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-26680250|title=Ukraine crisis: EU signs association deal|publisher= BBC News|date=21 March 2014|accessdate=21 March 2014}}</ref> This ousting was sparked by Yanukovych's refusal to sign the agreement. Russia, ], instead presented an association with ] as an alternative.<ref name="reuters-2013-russia-warns-ukraine" /><ref name="washingtonpost">{{cite web|url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/europe/ukraine-under-pressure-from-russia-puts-brakes-on-eu-deal/2013/11/21/46c50796-52c9-11e3-9ee6-2580086d8254_story.html|title=Ukraine, under pressure from Russia, puts brakes on E.U. deal|work=The Washington Post|accessdate=2014-03-23}}</ref> After 21 March 2014 matters relating to trade integration were temporarily set aside (awaiting the results of the ]) until the European Union and the new ] ] signed the economic part of the Ukraine–European Union Association Agreement on 27 June 2014,<ref name="EU signs pacts with Ukraine, Georgia and Moldova"/> and described this as Ukraine's "first but most decisive step" towards EU membership.<ref name="DW 16.09.2014"/> The political provisions of the treaty were signed on 21 March 2014 after a series of events that had stalled its ratification culminated ] and the ousting of the then incumbent ], ].<ref name=signed>{{cite web|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-26680250|title=Ukraine crisis: EU signs association deal|publisher= BBC News|date=21 March 2014|accessdate=21 March 2014}}</ref> This ousting was sparked by Yanukovych's refusal to sign the agreement. Russia, ], instead presented an association with ] as an alternative.<ref name="reuters-2013-russia-warns-ukraine" /><ref name="washingtonpost">{{cite web|url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/europe/ukraine-under-pressure-from-russia-puts-brakes-on-eu-deal/2013/11/21/46c50796-52c9-11e3-9ee6-2580086d8254_story.html|title=Ukraine, under pressure from Russia, puts brakes on E.U. deal|work=The Washington Post|accessdate=2014-03-23}}</ref> After 21 March 2014 matters relating to trade integration were temporarily set aside (awaiting the results of the ]) until the European Union and the new ] ] signed the economic part of the Ukraine–European Union Association Agreement on 27 June 2014,<ref name="EU signs pacts with Ukraine, Georgia and Moldova"/> and described this as Ukraine's "first but most decisive step" towards EU membership.<ref name="DW 16.09.2014"/>


The Agreement had as of September 2015 not entered into force, but Titles III, V, VI and VII, and the related Annexes and Protocols are provisionally applied since 1 November 2014 and with respect to Title IV from 1 January 2016, as far as EU competences are concerned. As of January 2016 the Agreement has come, provisionally, into full force (Titles III, V, VI and VII, and the related Annexes and Protocols have been provisionally applied since 1 November 2014, while Title IV has been applied from 1 January 2016.<ref>http://trade.ec.europa.eu/doclib/press/index.cfm?id=1425 EU Trade office: The trade part of the EU-Ukraine Association Agreement becomes operational on 1 January 2016 (December 31, 2015)</ref> Provisions shall be relaxed upon ratification of the Agreement by all signatories.


==Background== ==Background==

Revision as of 06:06, 12 January 2016

Ukraine–European Union Association Agreement
Association Agreement between the European Union and the European Atomic Energy Community and their member states, of the one part, and Ukraine, of the other part
Map of Europe with the European Union in green and Ukraine in orange.
TypeEuropean Union Association Agreement
Contextframework for cooperation between the EU and a non-EU country
Drafted30 March 2012 (30 March 2012)
Signed21 March 2014 (21 March 2014) (Preamble, Article 1 and Titles I, II, and VII)
27 June 2014 (27 June 2014) (Titles III, IV, V and VI, related Annexes and Protocols)
LocationBrussels, Belgium
EffectiveNot in force
Conditionratification by all signatories
Provisional application1 November 2014 (Titles III, V, VI, and VII to the extent it is EU competence)
1 January 2016 (Title IV, to the extent it is EU competence)
Signatories European Union
European Atomic Energy Community
28 EU member states
 Ukraine
Ratifiers26 / 31
DepositaryGeneral Secretariat of the Council of the European Union
LanguagesAll official languages of the European Union and Ukrainian

The Ukraine–European Union Association Agreement is a treaty between the European Union (EU), Euratom, their 28 Member States and Ukraine that establishes a political and economic association between the parties. The parties committed to co-operate and converge economic policy, legislation, and regulation across a broad range of areas, including equal rights for workers, steps towards visa-free movement of people, the exchange of information and staff in the area of justice, the modernisation of Ukraine's energy infrastructure, and access to the European Investment Bank. The parties committed to regular summit meetings, and meetings among ministers, other officials, and experts. The agreement furthermore establishes a Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area between the parties.

The agreement commits Ukraine to economic, judicial, and financial reforms to converge its policies and legislation to those of the European Union. Ukraine committed to gradually conform to EU technical and consumer standards. The EU agreed to provide Ukraine with political and financial support, access to research and knowledge, and preferential access to EU markets. The agreement commits both parties to promote a gradual convergence toward the EU's Common Security and Defence Policy and European Defence Agency policies.

The agreement comes after more than two decades in which both parties sought to establish closer ties with each other. On the one hand, the European Union wants to ensure that its imports of grain and natural gas from Ukraine, as well as its exports of goods to Ukraine, are not threatened by instability in the region, believing that instability could eventually be reduced through sociopolitical and economic reforms in Ukraine. Ukraine, on the other hand, wants to increase its exports by benefiting from free trade with the European Union while attracting desirable external investments, as well as establishing closer ties with a sociopolitical entity to which many Ukrainians feel strong cultural connection. Western Ukraine is found to be generally more enthusiastic about EU membership than Eastern Ukraine.

The political provisions of the treaty were signed on 21 March 2014 after a series of events that had stalled its ratification culminated in a revolution in Ukraine and the ousting of the then incumbent President of Ukraine, Viktor Yanukovych. This ousting was sparked by Yanukovych's refusal to sign the agreement. Russia, Ukraine's second largest trading partner, instead presented an association with customs union between Belarus, Kazakhstan, and Russia as an alternative. After 21 March 2014 matters relating to trade integration were temporarily set aside (awaiting the results of the 25 May 2014 Ukrainian presidential elections) until the European Union and the new Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko signed the economic part of the Ukraine–European Union Association Agreement on 27 June 2014, and described this as Ukraine's "first but most decisive step" towards EU membership.

As of January 2016 the Agreement has come, provisionally, into full force (Titles III, V, VI and VII, and the related Annexes and Protocols have been provisionally applied since 1 November 2014, while Title IV has been applied from 1 January 2016. Provisions shall be relaxed upon ratification of the Agreement by all signatories.

Background

Ukraine

Beginning in the late 18th century most of Ukraine was first part of the Russian Empire and then the Soviet Union (both the Russian SSR and the Ukrainian SSR united into the Soviet Union since 1922) until Ukraine declared its independence from the Soviet Union on 24 August 1991. Ukraine's economy thus became integrated with the Russian economy. In the same time period, Western Ukraine was part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, until the 1939 Soviet invasion of Poland of the Second Polish Republic.

Before signing the treaty, about a third of Ukraine's foreign trade was with the European Union (EU); another third was with Russia.

European Union

The predecessor of the European Union, the European Coal and Steel Community was constituted in 1952, consisting of 6 Western European countries. Its competences increased, and its membership grew over to the years to the 28 Members it has as of 2015. The Union has a common market, and has amongst others the competency to conclude trade agreements. The Union only has competence transferred to it from its member states, and thus when a treaty includes areas where it has no competence, the member states become a party to the treaty alongside the Union.

History

See also: Ukraine–European Union relations

On 22 July 2008, it was announced that a "Stabilisation and Association"-type agreement would be signed between Ukraine and the European Union. However, in 2011 the European Union High Representative for Foreign Affairs, Catherine Ashton, warned Ukraine that although talks about an European Union Association Agreement with Ukraine would continue, the ratification process of the treaty "will face problems if there is no reversal in the approach of Ukrainian authorities" towards the trial of former Prime Minister of Ukraine Yulia Tymoshenko. The association agreement has to be ratified by all member states and the European Parliament for the document to take effect. The sentencing of Tymoshenko to seven years in prison on 11 October 2011 was met with national and international protest and threatened Ukraine–European Union relations. Tymoshenko herself stated that her imprisonment should not stop the European Union from establishing closer ties with Ukraine. The signing of an association agreement between Ukraine and the European Union, although finalised, was postponed on 19 December 2011. According to a joint statement by Ukraine and the EU adopted on a Ukraine-EU Summit, the ratification of the treaty depended on Ukraine's "respect for common values and the rule of law with an independent judiciary". The European Commissioner for Enlargement and European Neighbourhood Policy, Štefan Füle, stated on 27 February 2012 that he "hoped" the association agreement would be initialed within a month and he "saw" it would be signed next autumn. He also noted "the need for action in six key areas" (mainly juridical reform and democratic freedoms). On 29 February 2012 the European People's Party demanded the immediate release of Yulia Tymoshenko, Yuriy Lutsenko and other political prisoners, and insisted that the association agreement between Ukraine and the European Union should not be signed and ratified until these demands were met.

Initial steps

The EU Association Agreement (AA) was initialed on 30 March 2012 in Brussels; The treatment and sentencing (considered by EU leaders as a politically motivated trial) of former Prime Minister of Ukraine Yulia Tymoshenko had strained the relations between the EU and Ukraine. The European Union and several of its member states, notably Germany, had pressured Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovich and his Azarov Government to halt the detention of Tymoshenko in fear of her degrading health. Several meetings with Yanukovich had been deserted by EU leaders, including the German president Joachim Gauck.

At the request of opposition politicians in Ukraine, EU government officials boycotted the UEFA Euro 2012 championship in Ukraine. EU leaders suggested that the AA, and the Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area, could not be ratified unless Ukraine addressed concerns over a "stark deterioration of democracy and the rule of law", including the imprisonment of Tymoshenko and Yuriy Lutsenko in 2011 and 2012.

A 10 December 2012 statement by the EU Foreign Affairs Council "reaffirms its commitment to the signing of the already initialed Association Agreement, including a Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area, as soon as the Ukrainian authorities demonstrate determined action and tangible progress in the three areas mentioned above, possibly by the time of the Eastern Partnership Summit in Vilnius in November 2013". These three areas are: "Electoral, judiciary and constitutional reforms (in line with international standards are integral parts of it and commonly agreed priorities)".

Kostiantyn Yelisieiev, Ukraine's Ambassador to the EU, responded in February 2013 by rejecting any preconditions by the EU for signing the AA. However, on 22 February 2013 a resolution was approved by 315 of the 349 registered members of the Verkhovna Rada stating that "within its powers" the parliament would ensure that the 10 December 2012 EU Foreign Affairs Council "recommendations" are implemented. At the 16th EU-Ukraine summit of 25 February 2013, The President of the European Council, Herman Van Rompuy, followed up on the December 2012 EU Foreign Affairs Council statement by reiterating the EU's "call for determined action and tangible progress in these areas – at the latest by May, this year". The same day President Yanukovych stated Ukraine will "do its best" to satisfy the EU's requirements. At the time President Yanukovych was also in negotiations with Russia to "find the right model" for cooperation with the Customs Union of Belarus, Kazakhstan and Russia. But also on 25 February 2013 President of the European Commission José Manuel Barroso made it clear that "one country cannot at the same time be a member of a customs union and be in a deep common free-trade area with the European Union".

To coordinate preparation of Ukraine for European integration, the Government of Ukraine adopted a Plan on Priority Measures for European Integration of Ukraine for 2013. Successful implementation of the plan was assumed to be one of the conditions necessary for signing of the Association Agreement, planned for 29 November 2013 during the Eastern Partnership Summit in Vilnius.

In March 2013, Stefan Fuele, the EU's Commissioner for Enlargement, informed the European Parliament that while Ukrainian authorities had given their "unequivocal commitment" to address the issues raised by the EU, several "disturbing" recent incidents, including the annulment of Tymoshenko's lawyer Serhiy Vlasenko's mandate in the Verkhovna Rada (Ukraine's parliament), could delay the signing of the agreements. However, the next day the Ukrainian Ministry of Foreign Affairs expressed its optimism that they would still be signed in November. On 7 April 2013 a decree by President Yanukovych freed Lutsenko from prison and exempted him, and his fellow Minister in the second Tymoshenko Government Heorhiy Filipchuk, from further punishment. On 3 September 2013, at the opening session of the Verkhovna Rada after the summer recess, President Yanukovych urged his parliament to adopt laws so that Ukraine would meet the EU criteria and be able to sign the Association Agreement in November 2013. On 18 September the Ukrainian cabinet unanimously approved the draft association agreement. On 25 September 2013 Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada Volodymyr Rybak stated that he was sure that his parliament would pass all the laws needed to fit the EU criteria for the Association Agreement since, except for the Communist Party of Ukraine, "the Verkhovna Rada has united around these bills". On 20 November 2013 the EU's Commissioner for Enlargement, Stefan Fuele, stated he expected that the Verkhovna Rada would the next day consider and adopt the remaining bills necessary for the signing of the association agreement, planned for 29 November 2013.

Stalling

See also: Euromaidan

"We know how much Ukrainian people feel European, how much they care about Europe. We will, of course, now pursue our conversations with our Ukrainian partners, knowing well that we should always respect Ukraine's sovereign decisions."

José Manuel Barroso, President of the European Commission, at the 28–29 November 2013 EU summit in Vilnius (29 November 2013)

On 21 November 2013 the Verkhovna Rada failed to pass any of the six motions on allowing the former Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko to receive medical treatment abroad, which was an EU demand for signing the association agreement. The same week Tymoshenko had stated that she was ready to ask the EU to drop the demand for her freedom if it meant President Viktor Yanukovych would sign the association agreement. The same day a Ukrainian government decree suspended preparations for signing of association agreement; instead it proposed the creation of a three-way trade commission between Ukraine, the European Union and Russia that would resolve trade issues between the sides. Prime Minister Mykola Azarov issued the decree in order to "ensure the national security of Ukraine" and in consideration of the possible ramifications of trade with Russia (and other CIS countries) if the agreement was signed on a 28–29 November summit in Vilnius. According to Ukrainian Deputy Prime Minister Yuriy Boyko Ukraine will resume preparing the agreement "when the drop in industrial production and our relations with CIS countries are compensated by the European market, otherwise our country's economy will sustain serious damage". Some EU diplomats were more skeptical of the reasons put forward. Later on 21 November 2013, the Russian presidential press secretary, Dmitry Peskov, called the Ukrainian decree "a strictly internal and sovereign decision of the country, and we think we have no right to comment on it" and stated that Russia was prepared to have tripartite negotiations with Ukraine and the EU on trade and economic issues. The European Parliament's monitoring mission in Ukraine stated (also on 21 November 2013) that there was still a possibility to sign the EU-Ukraine Association Agreement. The same day Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych stated "an alternative for reforms in Ukraine and an alternative for European integration do not exist...We are walking along this path and are not changing direction".

In the following days, Euromaidan, the biggest protests since the Orange Revolution, were being held in Kiev by opposition parties. On 26 November 2013 the Ukrainian Government admitted that Russia had asked it to delay signing the EU association agreement and that it "wanted better terms for the EU deal". "As soon as we reach a level that is comfortable for us, when it meets our interests, when we agree on normal terms, then we will be talking about signing," President Yanukovych stated in a televised interview. The same day Russian President Vladimir Putin called for an end to the criticism of the Ukrainian decision to delay the association agreement, and that the EU deal was bad for Russia's security interests. Putin was responding to statements by the President of the European Council, Herman Van Rompuy, and the President of the European Commission, José Manuel Barroso, that had stated they "strongly disapproved" of Russia's actions. On 26 November 2013 Prime Minister Azarov stated during a government meeting "I affirm with full authority that the negotiating process over the Association Agreement is continuing, and the work on moving our country closer to European standards is not stopping for a single day". President Yanukovych still attended the 28–29 November EU summit in Vilnius but the Association Agreement was not signed. During this summit the European Union and Ukraine initialed an Air Services Agreement. Also during the summit, President Yanukovych stated that Ukraine still wanted to sign the Association Agreement but that it needed substantial financial aid to compensate it for the threatened response from Russia, and he proposed starting three-way talks between Russia, Ukraine, and the EU. He also urged Brussels to help Ukraine soften the terms of a possible loan from the IMF. The EU rejected trilateral talks and asked Yanukovich to commit to sign the Association Agreement, which he refused to do. At the end of a summit President of the European Commission José Manuel Barroso stated that the EU will not tolerate "a veto of a third country" in their negotiations on closer integration with Ukraine. He also stated "We are embarked on a long journey, helping Ukraine to become, as others, what we call now, 'new member states'. But we have to set aside short-term political calculations."

The President of the European Council, Herman Van Rompuy, added that "we may not give in to external pressure, least of all from Russia". Barroso reiterated that the EU's offer to Ukraine in terms of signing an Association Agreement remained on the table. Simultaneously, President Yanukovych stated that he still intends to sign the Association Agreement at a later date "once we get down to work and find solutions for economic problems, when we get the opportunity to sign a strategic partnership agreement with Russia and everything else that we need to do, so that normal relations can be established between the European Union, Russia, and Ukraine… this is our responsibility".

Signing

Yanukovych was removed from power through a revolution and replaced by a new interim government in February 2014. At an EU summit in Brussels on 21 March 2014, the new Ukrainian Prime Minister, Arseniy Yatseniuk, and European Union leaders Herman Van Rompuy and José Manuel Barroso, along with the 28 national political leaders or heads of state on the European Council, signed in Brussels the political provisions of the AA, with the DCFTA to be signed after the presidential election in May 2014. The European Union and the (then) new Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko signed the economic part of the Ukraine–European Union Association Agreement on 27 June 2014, and described this as Ukraine's "first but most decisive step" towards EU membership. President of the European Council, Herman Van Rompuy, said at the signing ceremony: "In Kyiv and elsewhere, people gave their lives for this closer link to the European Union. We will not forget this."

Ratification

green: signatories to the agreement
darkgreen: states that deposited instrument of ratification
Signatory Date Institution In favour Against AB Deposited Reference
Austria Austria 8 July 2015 National Council 134 47 0 6 August 2015
24 July 2015 Federal Council Approved
31 July 2015 Presidential Assent Granted
Belgium Belgium
23 April 2015 Chamber of Representatives 102 17 19
13 May 2015 Royal Assent (federal law) Granted
1 July 2015
Walloon
Parliament
(regional)
(community)
63 2 4
61 2 4
22 June 2015 German-speaking Community 16 2 1
24 June 2015 French Community 71 0 8
20 November 2015 Brussels Regional Parliament 69 3 3
20 November 2015
Brussels United
Assembly
(FR language)
(NL language)
53 3 1
14 0 2
17 June 2015
Flemish
Parliament
(regional)
(community)
82 18
87 19
24 June 2015 COCOF Assembly 71 0 8
Bulgaria Bulgaria 24 July 2014 National Assembly 90 2 1 9 September 2014
28 July 2014 Presidential Assent Granted
Croatia Croatia 12 December 2014 Parliament 118 0 0 24 March 2015
18 December 2014 Presidential Assent Granted
Cyprus Cyprus 29 October 2015 House of Representatives Approved
6 November 2015 Presidential Assent Granted
Czech Republic Czech Republic 10 December 2014 Senate 52 3 12 12 November 2015
17 September 2015 Chamber of Deputies 107 29 2
27 October 2015 Presidential Assent Granted
Denmark Denmark 18 December 2014 Parliament 102 8 0 18 February 2015
Estonia Estonia 4 November 2014 Assembly 65 1 0 12 January 2015
13 November 2014 Presidential Assent Granted
European Union European Union and EAEC 16 September 2014 European Parliament 535 127 35
Council of the European Union
Finland Finland 10 March 2015 Parliament Approved 6 May 2015
24 April 2015 Presidential Assent Granted
France France 7 May 2015 Senate Approved 10 August 2015
25 June 2015 National Assembly Approved
8 July 2015 Presidential Assent Granted
Germany Germany 8 May 2015 Bundesrat 69 0 0 22 July 2015
26 March 2015 Bundestag 567 64 0
27 May 2015 Presidential Assent Granted
Greece Greece 18 November 2015 Parliament Approved 6 January 2016
24 November 2015 Presidential Promulgation Granted
Hungary Hungary 25 November 2014 National Assembly 139 5 0 7 April 2015
5 December 2014 Presidential Assent Granted
Republic of Ireland Ireland 27 January 2015 Dáil Éireann 59 19 0 17 April 2015
Italy Italy 10 September 2015 Senate 145 39 14 11 December 2015
11 June 2015 Chamber of Deputies 245 112 31
29 September 2015 Presidential Assent Granted
Latvia Latvia 14 July 2014 Parliament 79 0 0 31 July 2014
18 July 2014 Presidential Assent Granted
Lithuania Lithuania 8 July 2014 Parliament 87 0 1 29 July 2014
11 July 2014 Presidential Assent Granted
Luxembourg Luxembourg 18 March 2015 Chamber of Deputies 52 2 3 12 May 2015
12 April 2015 Grand Ducal Promulgation Granted
Malta Malta 21 August 2014 House of Representatives Approved 29 August 2014
Netherlands Netherlands 7 July 2015 Eerste Kamer 55 20 0
7 April 2015 Tweede Kamer 119 31 0
8 July 2015 Royal Promulgation Granted
6 April 2016 Referendum
Poland Poland 4 December 2014 Senate 76 0 0 24 March 2015
28 November 2014 Sejm 427 1 0
2 March 2015 Presidential Assent Granted
Portugal Portugal 20 March 2015 National Assembly Approved 13 May 2015
23 April 2015 Presidential Assent Granted
Romania Romania 2 July 2014 Chamber of Deputies 293 0 0 14 July 2014
3 July 2014 Senate 113 1 1
9 July 2014 Presidential Assent Granted
Slovakia Slovakia 24 September 2014 National Council 132 0 2 21 October 2014
16 October 2014 Presidential Assent Granted
Slovenia Slovenia 13 May 2015 National Assembly 68 3 1 27 July 2015
21 May 2015 Presidential Assent Granted
Spain Spain 15 April 2015 Senate Approved 19 May 2015
19 February 2015 Congress of Deputies 296 1 12
Royal Assent Granted
Sweden Sweden 26 November 2014 Parliament 250 44 0 9 January 2015
Ukraine Ukraine 16 September 2014 Verkhovna Rada 355 0 0 26 September 2014
16 September 2014 Presidential Assent Granted
United Kingdom United Kingdom 9 March 2015 House of Lords Approved 8 April 2015
23 February 2015 House of Commons Approved
19 March 2015 Royal Assent Order Made

Ratification notes

Malta

The ratification was performed in accordance with article 4(2)(b) of the Maltese European Union Act, which reads that:

"Provided that with regard to treaties and international conventions which Malta may accede to as Member State of the European Union, and treaties and international conventions which Malta is bound to ratify in its own name or on behalf of the European Community by virtue of its membership within the European Union, these shall come into force one month following their being submitted in order to be discussed by the Standing Committee on Foreign and European Affairs."

As the treaty was submitted to the Standing Committee on Foreign and European Affairs on 21 July 2014, the treaty came into force as part of the Maltese legislation on 21 August 2014.

Netherlands
Main article: Dutch Ukraine–European Union Association Agreement referendum, 2016

A referendum on the approval act will be held in the Netherlands. Following the entry into effect of the Wet Raadgevend Referendum on 1 July 2015, an advisory referendum is to be held for any act (after its approval) that is not explicitly exempted if sufficient requests are filed. On 13 August the Kiesraad announced that 13490 valid requests had been registered for a preliminary request for a referendum, which is more than the 10 000 threshold. This threshold triggered the final phase of the referendum request, requiring 300 000 requests between 18 August and 28 September. If this requirement is met, an advisory referendum will be held on the law. The Kiesraad announced on 14 October that 472,849 request had been received, 427,939 of which were held valid, which is over the threshold of 300,000.

United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland

The ratification was based on The European Union (Definition of Treaties) (Association Agreement) (Ukraine) Order 2015, made in accordance with section 1(3) of the European Communities Act 1972, after having been approved by a resolution of each House of Parliament.

Provisions

The agreement requires regular summits between the President of the European Council and the President of Ukraine. Members of the Council of the European Union and the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine must also meet regularly, as well as members of the European Parliament and the Ukrainian Parliament, and other officials and experts from both parties.

The agreement also commits both parties to cooperate and converge policy, legislation, and regulation across a broad range of areas. These include: equal rights for workers, steps towards visa-free movement of people, the exchange of information and staff in the area of justice, the modernisation of Ukraine's energy infrastructure, access to the European Investment Bank, and a variety of others.

The agreement also commits Ukraine to an agenda of economic, judicial and financial reforms and to gradual approximation of its policies and legislation to those of the European Union. Ukraine has also committed to take steps to gradually conform to technical and consumer standards upheld by the European Union. In exchange, the European Union will provide Ukraine with political and financial support, access to research and knowledge, and preferential access to EU markets. The agreement also commits both parties to promote a gradual convergence in the area of foreign and security policy, specifically the EU's Common Security and Defence Policy and policies set forth by the European Defence Agency.

Economic

This section is empty. You can help by adding to it. (March 2014)

Political

This section is empty. You can help by adding to it. (March 2014)

Trade

The parties will progressively establish a free trade area over a transitional period of a maximum of 10 years starting from the entry into force of the agreement.

Each party will reduce or eliminate customs duties on originating goods of the other party. Ukraine will eliminate customs duties on imports for certain worn clothing and other worn articles. Both parties will not institute or maintain any customs duties, taxes or other measures having an equivalent effect imposed on, or in connection with, the exportation of goods to the territory of each other. Existing customs duties or measures having equivalent effect applied by Ukraine will be phased out over a transitional period. Each party is restricted from maintaining, introducing or reintroducing export subsidies or other measures with equivalent effect on agricultural goods destined for the territory of the other party.

The parties will establish an expert-level Dialogue on Trade Remedies as a forum for cooperation in trade remedies matters. The Dialogue will seek to enhance a party's knowledge and understanding of the other party's trade remedy laws, policies and practices; improve cooperation between the parties' authorities having responsibility for trade remedies matters; discuss international developments in the area of trade defence; and to cooperate on any other trade remedies matter.

The parties will strengthen their cooperation in the field of technical regulations, standards, metrology, market surveillance, accreditation and conformity assessment procedures with a view to increase mutual understanding of their respective systems and facilitate access to their respective markets. In their cooperation, the parties will seek to identify, develop and promote trade-facilitating initiatives which may include: the reinforcement of regulatory cooperation through the exchange of information, experience and data; scientific and technical cooperation, with a view to improve the quality of their technical regulations, standards, testing, market surveillance, certification, and accreditation, and making efficient use of regulatory resources; promote and encourage cooperation between their respective organisations, public or private, responsible for metrology, standardisation, testing, market surveillance, certification and accreditation; foster the development of the quality infrastructure for standardisation, metrology, accreditation, conformity assessment and the market surveillance system in Ukraine; promote Ukrainian participation in the work of related European organisations; and seek solutions to trade barriers that may arise; coordinate their positions in international trade and regulatory organisations such as the WTO and the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UN-ECE).

Ukraine will take the necessary measures in order to gradually achieve conformity with EU technical regulations and EU standardisation, metrology, accreditation, conformity assessment procedures and the market surveillance system, and undertakes to follow the principles and practices laid down in relevant EU Decisions and Regulations. For this purpose Ukraine will:

  • incorporate the relevant EU acquis into its legislation;
  • make the administrative and institutional reforms that are necessary to implement the association agreement and the Agreement on Conformity Assessment and Acceptance of Industrial Products (ACAA); and
  • provide the effective and transparent administrative system required for the implementation of these matters.

Ukraine will also ensure that its relevant national bodies participate fully in the European and international organisations for standardisation, legal and fundamental metrology, and conformity assessment including accreditation in accordance with its area of activity and the membership status available to it.

Ukraine will also progressively transpose the corpus of European standards (EN) as national standards, including the harmonised European standards. Simultaneously with such transposition, Ukraine will withdraw conflicting national standards, including its application of interstate standards (GOST/ГОСТ), developed before 1992. In addition, Ukraine will progressively fulfill the other conditions for membership, in line with the requirements applicable to full members of the European Standardisation Organisations.

Ukraine will approximate its sanitary and phytosanitary and animal welfare legislation to that of the EU.

Free trade area

Further information: Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area and European Union free trade agreements

The Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area (DCFTA) is part of the association agreement. While work on signing a deep and comprehensive free trade agreement between Ukraine and the EU first began in 1999, formal negotiations between the Ukrainian government and the EU Trade Commissioner were not launched until 18 February 2008. As of May 2011 there remained three outstanding issues to be resolved in the free trade deal: quotas on Ukrainian grain exports, access to the EU's services market and geographical names of Ukrainian commodities. Aside from these issues, the deal was ready. Despite those outstanding issues, Ukraine was ready to sign the agreement as it stood. Although it wanted stronger wording on enlargement prospects and access to the EU market for its truckers, Ukraine had more than many other candidates at the equivalent stage of the process. The finalised agreement was initialed on 19 July 2012. Ratification of the DCFTA, like the AA, has been stalled by the EU over concerns over the rule of law in Ukraine. This includes the application of selective justice, as well as amending electoral laws. As a result, the role of Ukrainian oligarchs in sanctioning the agreement was also questioned.

If Ukraine would choose the agreement, the Eurasian Economic Commission's Customs Union of Belarus, Kazakhstan and Russia would withdraw from free trade agreements with the country, according to Russian presidential advisor Sergei Glazyev. However, on 21 November 2013 a Ukrainian government decree suspended preparations for signing the agreement that was scheduled to be signed during a 28–29 November 2013 EU summit in Vilnius, and it was not signed. The decision to put off signing the association agreement led to 2014 Ukrainian revolution.

Effects

Before the final signing of the agreement on 27 June 2014 Russian officials stated Russia could very likely raise tariffs on Ukrainian imports, Russia is Ukraine's single largest export market, accounting for nearly a quarter of Ukraine's international trade. However, after the Russian aggression against Ukraine the EU has become Ukraine's largest trading partner. It is also its main source of Foreign Direct Investment (FDI).

According to BBC News Ukrainian free access to the EU internal market (the world's biggest free trade area) "is supposed to bring a boost in the long term" to the economy of Ukraine. And the fact that Ukraine has agreed in the treaty to implement EU rules and stipulations should improve Ukraine's business climate as a whole "The country will be required to introduce wide-ranging reforms - increasing transparency, reducing corruption and raising the quality of its output". But it warned that "in the short term, this will cause a great deal of pain and disruption".

Ukrainian EU membership

Main article: Ukraine–European Union relations § Ukrainian EU membership

Reactions

European Union

  •  European Union: The President of the European Council, Herman Van Rompuy, stated, prior to the signing of the political provisions of the Association Agreement on 21 March 2014, that the agreement shows the EU's "steadfast support for the course the people of Ukraine have courageously pursued" and that the EU "stands ready to help restore macro-economic stability in the country and to remove custom duties on Ukrainian exports to the EU for a while."
  •  Germany: German Chancellor Angela Merkel was one of the European leaders who signed the political provisions of the agreement on 21 March 2014 and stated that the agreement "is a way of assuring the Ukrainian government and the Ukrainian people more comprehensive support."
  •  United Kingdom: The British Prime Minister, David Cameron, was one of the European leaders who signed the political provisions of the agreement on 21 March 2014 and stated in a press conference that "Ukrainian success will be one of the most powerful answers to Russian aggression."

Russia

Russia On 29 July 2013 Russia banned the import of chocolate products made by the Ukrainian company Roshen and asked Belarus and Kazakhstan to follow suit. A Russian sanitary official stated that the company had not met quality and safety standards, but critics alleged that the ban was meant as a warning against Ukraine associating more closely with the EU. The owner of Roshen, Petro Poroshenko, is the current president of Ukraine, and at the time was seen as pro-European. On 14 August 2013, Federal Customs Service of Russia officials began conducting more stringent inspections of cargo arriving from Ukraine than would normally be carried out. This lasted until 20 August 2013 and was followed by statements from the Russian President's top economic advisor Sergey Glazyev arguing that the impact of Russia's response to Ukraine signing the agreement, including tariffs and trade checks, could lead to default, a decline in the standard of living and "political and social unrest" in Ukraine, and would violate the Russian-Ukrainian strategic partnership and friendship treaty. The latter, he warned, would mean that Ukraine's statehood could not be guaranteed by Russia, which might intervene in the country at the request of pro-Russian regions.

Russian President Vladimir Putin warned that members of the Customs Union of Belarus, Kazakhstan and Russia may impose what he called protective measures in the event of trade liberalization between Ukraine and the EU. The EU condemned Russia's threats, calling them unacceptable. Ukrainian Prime Minister Mykola Azarov urged Russia "to accept the reality of Ukraine signing the EU agreement" and condemned any artificial barriers as pointless.

Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovich reaffirmed his commitment to the agreement during his annual Independence Day of Ukraine speech on 24 August, and called it an incentive for Ukraine to become a modern European state. In the same speech, he also called for the preservation and deepening of ties with "...Russia, countries of the Eurasian community, other world leaders and new centers of economic development." Ukrainian pro-European opposition politicians commented that Russian actions were consistent with a leaked document outlining a Russian Government strategy to enlarge the Customs Union of Belarus, Kazakhstan and Russia to Ukraine and to prevent its further association with Euro-Atlantic structures. Among other things, the 14-page document lists efforts to promote pro-Russian rhetoric in the media dominated by anti-Russian opinions, sanctioning pro-European Ukrainian business owners, TV magnates and politicians, efforts to elect pro-Russian Viktor Medvedchuk as president in 2015 and a subsequent purge of pro-European civil servants. The paper also mentions cooperation with Belarus and Kazakhstan in this regard. Experts commenting on the "leaked document" argued that Medvedchuk had no chance of winning the 2015 Presidential election and could not seriously disrupt the signing of the Association Agreement.

On 19 September 2013 President Putin stated that Russia would impose "protectionist measures" against Ukraine once the EU Association Agreement was implemented. The next day Aleksei Pushkov, chairman of the State Duma (Russia's main parliament) committee on international affairs commented that Ukraine was entering into an EU "semi-colonial dependence". On 8 October 2013 President Putin stated the free trade agreement "may create certain problems for trade and cooperation. Certain damage may be done to the economic sphere but we will not have any problems in the political field, I am certain".

After the economic part of the Ukraine–European Union Association Agreement was signed on 27 June 2014 (by the new President Petro Poroshenko) Russian President Vladimir Putin stated that making Ukraine choose between Russia and the EU would split the country in two.

Other countries

  •  Canada: Minister of Foreign Affairs John Baird announced the signing of the agreement's political provisions is "a historic milestone on Ukraine’s path toward a European future" and that Canada welcomes the news.

Implementation schedule

In trilateral talks in early September 2014, the European Commission, the Government of Ukraine and Russia agreed on deferring the provisional implementation of the agreement until the end of 2015. "We have agreed to postpone the application until December 31 next year," said EU - Trade Commissioner Karel De Gucht on September 12, 2014 in Brussels at the end of talks with Alexey Ulyukaev, the Russian Minister of Economic Affairs, and Pavlo Klimkin, Foreign Minister of Ukraine. According to Interfax, the President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko had advocated this decision. Pavlo Klimkin stated Ukraine would also benefit from the postponement: "This is a very important decision and we are very grateful to the EU for offering a privileged access to the European market. This allows our companies to prepare for the further liberalization of trade.“ The approval of the EU countries is still pending. The unilateral trade facilitation - the abolition of import duties in the EU - will remain in force - on the condition of the approval of the EU Council of Ministers. Tariffs on EU products exported into Ukraine persist.

In the background there are Russia's concerns about negative effects on the Russian economy, should EU-products get into the Russian market through Ukraine. Therefore, the Russian government had announced new tariffs on Ukrainian products if, as planned, the Association Agreement entered into force as planned on 1 November 2014. The damage to the Russian economy by eliminating import tariffs in Ukraine is estimated to amount to 2 billion dollars by the Russian side. On 1 September 2014, Russia had put forward a list of 2370 change requests concerning the consequences for the Russian-Ukrainian trade. The list had been requested by Karel de Gucht on July 11, 2014. According to the German newspaper Süddeutsche Zeitung there was growing belief in Brussels that "the economic ties between Moscow and Kiev can not be ignored." Before entering into force "thousands of exceptions are to be agreed on", informs the Süddeutsche Zeitung, referring to sources in Brussels.

See also

Notes

  1. The Communist Party of Ukraine wants Ukraine to join the Customs Union of Belarus, Kazakhstan and Russia.
  2. The President of Lithuania, Dalia Grybauskaitė, stated on 22 November 2013 that Yanukovych had told her in a telephone conversation that he could not sign the association agreement because Russia had threatened Ukraine with restrictions on its commodities imports to Russia and he believed that this would make Ukraine suffer billions in losses.
  3. German Chancellor Angela Merkel stated during the summit of Ukraine signing their Association Agreement, "I don't have any hope that it will happen this time but the door is open", and that "the Ukrainian president has decided that he does not want this. The door to Europe remains open. We must continue to work. A difficult path is to be walked".
  4. Concerning issues within the competence of the French Community, delegated to the Walloon Region
  5. Approval of the Brussels United Assembly is subject to an absolute majority of both language groups of the parliament (French and Dutch) voting in favour. Failing that, a second vote can be held where only one third of each language group, and a majority of the full house, is required for adoption.
  6. Ukrainian Prime Minister Mykola Azarov stated that the problem that finally blocked the EU deal were conditions proposed for an International Monetary Fund loan being negotiated at the same time, which would require big budget cuts and a 40% increase in gas bills. On 7 December 2013 the IMF clarified that it was not insisting on a single-stage increase in natural gas tariffs in Ukraine by 40%, but recommended that they be gradually raised to an economically justified level while compensating the poorest segments of the population for the losses from such an increase by strengthening targeted social assistance. The same day IMF Resident Representative in Ukraine Jerome Vacher stated that this particular IMF loan is worth 4 billion US Dollars and that it would be linked with "policy, which would remove disproportions and stimulated growth".
  7. Ukraine and the EU started "conducting technical preparations for the upcoming dialogue between Ukraine and the EU on certain aspects of the implementation of an Association Agreement" on 5 December 2013.
  8. The President of Belarus, Alexander Lukashenko, stated on 7 October 2013 that he "didn't see any problems" in the signing of the Association Agreement between Ukraine and the EU.

References

  1. ^ "Agreement details". Council of the European Union. Retrieved 27 March 2014.
    "Agreement details". Council of the European Union. Retrieved 4 July 2014.
  2. ^ EU signs pacts with Ukraine, Georgia and Moldova, BBC News (27 June 2014)
  3. "Joint Statement by the Presidents of Ukraine, the European Council and the European Commission on the occasion of the beginning of the provisional application of the Association Agreement". europa.eu. European Commission. Retrieved 31 October 2014.
  4. "EUR-Lex - 32014D0691 - EN - EUR-Lex". Retrieved 23 October 2014.
  5. ^ Guide to the EU deals with Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine, BBC News (30 June 2014)
  6. Coy, Peter; Matlack, Carol; Meyer, Henry (27 February 2014). "The New Great Game: Why Ukraine Matters to So Many Other Nations". Bloomberg BusinessWeek. Retrieved 23 March 2014.
  7. Moskowitz, Peter (6 March 2014). "What does the West want from Ukraine?". Al Jazeera. Retrieved 23 March 2014.
  8. Ukrainians dream of EU future, BBC News (28 January 2008)
    The language question, the results of recent research in 2012, RATING (25 May 2012)
    Ukraine favors Europe over Russia, new CNN poll finds, CNN (13 May 2014)
    CNN–Ukraine Crisis Poll, ComRes (13 May 2014)
  9. Thompson, Mark (12 March 2014). "Soros: Ukraine needs EU Marshall Plan". CNN Money. Retrieved 24 March 2014.
  10. ^ "Ukraine crisis: EU signs association deal". BBC News. 21 March 2014. Retrieved 21 March 2014.
  11. ^ "Putin warns Ukraine over Europe ambitions". Reuters. 19 September 2013. Retrieved 20 September 2013.
  12. "Ukraine, under pressure from Russia, puts brakes on E.U. deal". The Washington Post. Retrieved 23 March 2014.
  13. ^ Ukraine ratifies EU association agreement. Deutsche Welle. Published 16.09.2014.
  14. http://trade.ec.europa.eu/doclib/press/index.cfm?id=1425 EU Trade office: The trade part of the EU-Ukraine Association Agreement becomes operational on 1 January 2016 (December 31, 2015)
  15. ^ A History of Ukraine: The Land and Its Peoples by Paul Robert Magocsi, University of Toronto Press, 2010, ISBN 1442610212 (page 563/564 & 722/723)
    Ukraine: A History 4th edition by Orest Subtelny, University of Toronto Press, ISBN 978-1-4426-4016-0 (Part four)
  16. "New enhanced agreement between Ukraine and EU called 'Agreement on Association'". Ukrainian Independent Information Agency. 22 July 2008.
  17. ^ "EU-Ukraine association deal might hit ratification problems if Tymoshenko situation remains unchanged". Kyiv Post. Interfax Ukraine. 5 September 2011. Retrieved 23 March 2014.
  18. van der Made, Jan (12 October 2011). "Tymoshenko supporters protest at jail sentence". Radio France Internationale. Retrieved 23 March 2014.
  19. "Amnesty International: Jailed former Ukraine prime minister must be released". Kyiv Post. 11 October 2011.
  20. "Sign deal with Kyiv, Tymoshenko daughter tells EU". Kyiv Post. Reuters. 14 December 2011.
  21. "EU-Ukraine pact finalized, signing stalled". Kyiv Post. Associated Press. 19 December 2011.
  22. "Ratification of association agreement with EU to depend on Ukraine's commitment to rule of law". Interfax-Ukraine. 19 December 2011.
  23. "Kyiv's performance in sphere of rule of law to be crucial for subsequent implementation of association agreement". Interfax-Ukraine. 19 December 2011.
  24. "Events by themes: XV EU-Ukraine Summit take place in Kiev". Ukrainian Independent Information Agency. 19 December 2011.
  25. "Fule names key areas of EU integration process for Ukraine". Kyiv Post. Interfax-Ukraine. 28 February 2012.
  26. "Fule: EU-Ukraine association agreement to be initialed within a month". Kyiv Post. Interfax-Ukraine. 28 February 2012.
  27. "EU's Fuele outlines steps Ukraine must take to improve relations". Kyiv Post. 28 February 2012.
  28. "European party demands permission for Tymoshenko to take tests at EU labs". Kyiv Post. Interfax-Ukraine. 1 March 2012.
  29. "European lawmakers: Association agreement should not be signed with opposition in jail". Kyiv Post. 1 March 2012. Retrieved 13 November 2012.
  30. European Neighbourhood Watch Issue 80, Centre for European Policy (March 2012)
  31. ^ AFP-Yahoo{{dead link}}
  32. "German ambassador: Association agreement unlikely to be signed unless Tymoshenko is free". Kyiv Post. Interfax-Ukraine. 23 February 2012.
  33. Elder, Miriam (27 April 2012). "Ukraine bomb blasts injure dozens ahead of Euro 2012". The Guardian.
  34. ^ Danilova, Maria (27 April 2012). "Opposition suggests government were behind Ukraine bomb attacks in Dnipropetrovsk". The Independent.
  35. Меркель: Німеччина намагається домовитись про лікування Тимошенко в Берліні. Ukrayinska Pravda (in Ukrainian). 28 April 2012. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |trans_title= ignored (|trans-title= suggested) (help)
  36. Rettman, Andrew (5 November 2012). "EU-Ukraine summit 'unlikely' this year". EUobserver.
  37. "Tymoshenko: Austria ministers in Euro 2012 boycott". BBC. 2 May 2012.
  38. ^ "Ukraine's jailed Tymoshenko calls off hunger strike". Kyiv Post. Reuters. 16 November 2012.
  39. ^ "EU leaders: Ratification of Association Agreement and DCFTA depends on settlement of Tymoshenko-Lutsenko issue". Kyiv Post. Interfax-Ukraine. 20 July 2012.
  40. ^ "Ukraine's Lutsenko jailed for 4 years (updated)". Kyiv Post. Reuters. 27 February 2012.
  41. "Council conclusions on Ukraine - 3209th FOREIGN AFFAIRS Council meeting" (PDF) (Press release). Brussels: Council of the European Union. 10 December 2012. {{cite press release}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |undefined= (help)
    "EU could sign association agreement by November 2013". Kyiv Post. Interfax-Ukraine. 10 December 2012. "EU expects Ukraine to conduct reforms that will help implement association agreement". Kyiv Post. Interfax-Ukraine. 10 December 2012.
  42. "Ukraine rejects pre-conditions for EU deal". EurActiv. 20 February 2013. Retrieved 22 February 2013.
  43. "Parliament passes statement on Ukraine's aspirations for European integration". Kyiv Post. Interfax-Ukraine. 22 February 2013.
  44. "Ukraine-EU summit begins in Brussels". Kyiv Post. Interfax-Ukraine. 25 February 2013.
  45. ^ "EU to Ukraine: Reforms necessary for trade pact". Kyiv Post. Associated Press. 25 February 2013. Krasnolutska, Daryna; Neuger, James G. (25 February 2013). "Ukraine Faces EU Reform Deadline as Key to Association Pact". Bloomberg Businessweek.
    "Yanukovych happy with results of Ukrainian-EU summit". Kyiv Post. Interfax-Ukraine. 25 February 2013.
  46. ^ "EU Commissioner Fule expects Rada to pass European integration bills on November 21". Interfax-Ukraine. 20 November 2013.
  47. "Rybak: Parliament to adopt remaining EU integration laws at autumn session". Interfax-Ukraine. 30 May 2013.
  48. "Ukraine optimistic about signing association deal with EU in November". Shanghai Daily. 14 March 2013. Retrieved 17 March 2013.
  49. Peacock, Julie (8 April 2013). "Ukraine President Viktor Yanukovych pardons Yulia Tymoshenko allies". BBC News."Ukrainian leader Yanukovych pardons Tymoshenko ally". BBC News. 7 April 2013.
    Ukrainian president pardons Lutsenko and Filipchuk – decree, Interfax-Ukraine (7 April 2013)
  50. "Ukrainian president asks for laws to be passed to facilitate EU association agreement". Euronews. 3 September 2013.Balmforth, Richard (3 September 2013). "Ukraine leader urges pro-Europe drive despite Kremlin pressure". Reuters.
  51. "Ukraine's Cabinet Backs EU Association Agreement". Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty. 18 September 2013. Retrieved 20 September 2013.
  52. ^ EU-Ukraine Association Agreement to be signed, Ukraine to go to Europe – speaker, Interfax-Ukraine (25 September 2013)
  53. Communists call for halt to cooperation with IMF, Kyiv Post (7 November 2011)
  54. ^ EU and Ukraine say ‘door still open’ for future trade pact, Euronews (29 November 2013)
  55. ^ "Ukraine drops EU plans and looks to Russia". aljazeera.com. Retrieved 21 November 2013.
  56. ^ Cox-Kwasniewski mission to continue until Eastern Partnership Summit, Interfax-Ukraine (21 November 2013)
  57. Jailed Tymoshenko on hunger strike over EU U-turn by Ukraine, Euronews (25 November 2013)
  58. ^ Ukraine to resume preparing agreement with EU when compensation for production drop found –Boiko, Interfax-Ukraine (21 November 2013)
  59. Ukrainian government issues decree to suspend preparations for signing of association agreement with EU, Interfax-Ukraine (21 November 2013)
  60. Rada votes down all bills on allowing Tymoshenko's medical treatment abroad, Interfax-Ukraine (21 November 2013)
  61. Rettman, Andrew (21 November 2013). "Ukraine pulls the plug on EU treaty". EUobserver. Retrieved 21 November 2013. Behind the scenes, the development caused little surprise. 'I expected it next week. But today's timing makes it a calculated insult to Fuele … It marks a total u-turn,' one EU diplomat said. Another EU diplomat noted it has been clear for at least six months that Ukraine was planning to ditch the EU pact. 'This is the dot above the i,' he said. He noted that the reference to Russian trade pressure is part of Yanukovych's 'game.' 'He wants to represent himself as a victim. He said today in Vienna that he wants to continue with euro-integration … But what he really wants is for the EU and the IMF to keep giving him money in the name of keeping out Russia so that he can win the next elections,' the source said.
  62. Russia ready for tripartite talks with Ukraine, EU – Peskov, Interfax-Ukraine (21 November 2013)
  63. ^ Ukraine has no alternative but European integration – Yanukovych, Interfax-Ukraine (21 November 2013)
  64. Yanukovych tells Grybauskaite Kyiv cannot sign agreement with EU because of Russian pressure, Interfax-Ukraine (22 November 2013)
  65. "Mass rallies in Ukraine against government U-turn on EU". Reuters. 24 November 2013. Retrieved 24 November 2013.
  66. "Ukraine police clash with pro-EU protesters". Al Jazeera. 24 November 2013. Retrieved 24 November 2013.
  67. ^ "Putin says Ukraine-EU deal a threat to Russia - Europe - Al Jazeera". Al Jazeera. Retrieved 23 March 2014.
  68. ^ "Ukraine still wants historic pact with EU". Oman Observer. Retrieved 27 November 2013.
    Ukraine police dismantle Kiev protest camps, BBC News (9 December 2013)
  69. ^ Ukraine fails to sign landmark deal at EU summit, Euronews (29 November 2013)
  70. EU leaders gather in Vilnius under Ukraine cloud, BBC News (28 November 2013)
  71. EU, Ukraine join forces in aviation, Interfax-Ukraine (28 November 2013)
  72. ^ "Ukraine 'still wants to sign EU deal' - Europe - Al Jazeera". Al Jazeera. Retrieved 23 March 2014.
  73. ^ EU rejects Russia 'veto' on Ukraine agreement, BBC News (29 November 2013)
    Barroso criticises Russian interference on Ukraine deal, BBC News (29 November 2013)
    EU and Ukraine fail to sign association agreement, BBC News (29 November 2013)
    EU will not accept Russian veto, says Barroso, The Daily Telegraph (29 November 2013)
  74. "BBC News - EU rejects Russia 'veto' on Ukraine agreement". BBC. Retrieved 23 March 2014.
  75. ^ Barroso: EU to continue its dialog with Ukraine on principles of mutual respect, transparency and responsibility, Interfax-Ukraine (29 November 2013)
  76. No sign of revival in EU-Ukraine deal as summit starts, Euronews (28 November 2013)
  77. Merkel: If Ukraine 'has the courage' to take step towards Europe, EU will be reliable partner, Interfax-Ukraine (29 November 2013)
  78. says Ukraine-EU deal is suspended, not cancelled, Euronews (29 November 2013)
  79. eeas.europa.eu: "Signatures of the political provisions of the Association Agreement" 21 Mar 2014
  80. "Ukraine to sign political aspects of EU pact on Friday". Reuters. 17 March 2014. Retrieved 19 March 2014.
  81. Croft, Adrian. "European Union signs landmark association agreement with Ukraine". Reuters.
  82. EU, Ukraine to sign remaining part of Association Agreement on June 27 – European Council, Interfax-Ukraine (16 June 2014)
  83. "Defying Russian opposition, Ukraine signs accord with EU -publisher=Europe News.Net". Retrieved 23 October 2014.
  84. ^ http://www.parlament.gv.at/PAKT/VHG/XXV/I/I_00581/index.shtml
  85. "Austrian president signs ratification of Ukraine-EU Association Agreement". Kyiv Post. Retrieved 31 July 2015.
  86. http://www.dekamer.be/kvvcr/showpage.cfm?section=flwb&language=nl&cfm=/site/wwwcfm/flwb/flwbn.cfm?dossierID=0980&legislat=54&inst=K
  87. http://www.ukrinform.ua/ukr/news/belgiya_ratifikuvala_asotsiatsiyu_ukraiina_e_s_2046552
  88. http://www.ukrinform.ua/rubric-politycs/1917926-asotsiatsiyu-z-ukrajinoyu-ratifikuvali-vsi-krajini-es.html
  89. ^ "COMPTE RENDU INTÉGRAL, Séance plénière*" (PDF). Parlement.wallonie.be. 1 July 2015.
  90. "Ausfuhrlichter Bericht" (PDF). Parliament of the German-speaking Community. Retrieved 23 September 2015.
  91. "COMPTE RENDU INTÉGRAL, SÉANCES DU MERCREDI 24 JUIN 2015 (MATIN ET APRÈS-MIDI)" (in French). Pfwb.be. Retrieved 6 September 2015.
  92. "Séance plénière vendredi 20/11/2015" (PDF). Irisnet. Retrieved 9 December 2015.
  93. "Assemblée réunie". Common Community Commission. Retrieved 31 May 2013.
  94. "Séance plénière vendredi 20/11/2015" (PDF). Irisnet. Retrieved 9 December 2015.
  95. ^ "Parliamentary report". Retrieved 5 September 2015.
  96. https://www.pfwb.be/le-travail-du-parlement/doc-et-pub/documents-parlementaires-et-decrets/documents/001476121
  97. http://archive.pfwb.be/100000002018075?action=browse
  98. "Народно събрание на Република България - Стенограми от пленарни заседания". Retrieved 23 October 2014.
  99. "Народно събрание на Република България - Закони". Retrieved 23 October 2014.
  100. "Hrvatski sabor - Akti u raspravi na plenarnoj sjednici". Retrieved 10 December 2014.
  101. http://narodne-novine.nn.hr/clanci/medunarodni/2015_01_1_1.html
  102. http://www.parliament.cy/easyconsole.cfm/id/1703
  103. http://www.mof.gov.cy/mof/gpo/gpo.nsf/All/A883D9C095A9EC33C2257EF5003CF4F5/$file/4210%206%2011%202015%20PARARTIMA%201o%20MEROS%20III.pdf
  104. ^ "Doh.o přidruž.mezi státy EU a ES pro atom.energ. a Ukrajinou". Retrieved 23 October 2014.
  105. Chamber of Deputies, Thursday September 17, 2015, 23.40
  106. https://www.hrad.cz/cs/pro-media/tiskove-zpravy/8922.shtml
  107. http://www.ft.dk/samling/20141/beslutningsforslag/b8/index.htm
  108. "Riigikogu ratifitseeris Ukraina, Gruusia ja Moldova assotsieerimislepingud EL-iga". Riigikogu. 4 November 2014. Retrieved 4 November 2014.
  109. "HÄÄLETUSTULEMUSED  » TEISIPÄEV 04. NOVEMBER 2014 KELL 12:37". Riigikogu. 4 November 2014. Retrieved 4 November 2014.
  110. http://www.riigikogu.ee/index.php?page=en_vaade&op=ems&enr=714SE&koosseis=12
  111. "European Parliament ratifies EU-Ukraine Association Agreement". http://www.europarl.europa.eu/. European Parliament. 16 September 2014. Retrieved 16 September 2014. {{cite news}}: External link in |work= (help)
  112. http://www.eduskunta.fi/valtiopaivaasiat/he+355/2014
  113. http://formin.finland.fi/public/default.aspx?contentid=325590&contentlan=2&culture=en-US
  114. ^ http://www.senat.fr/dossier-legislatif/pjl14-365.html
  115. http://www.bundesrat.de/SharedDocs/beratungsvorgaenge/2014/0501-0600/0545-14.html
  116. http://dipbt.bundestag.de/dip21/brd/2015/0160-15B.pdf
  117. http://www.bundestag.de/dokumente/textarchiv/2015/kw13_angenommen_abgelehnt/366926
  118. http://www.bgbl.de/xaver/bgbl/start.xav?startbk=Bundesanzeiger_BGBl&jumpTo=bgbl215s0530.pdf
  119. http://www.hellenicparliament.gr/Nomothetiko-Ergo/Anazitisi-Nomothetikou-Ergou?law_id=8a94fea1-7599-4030-ba06-a54600c70709
  120. http://www.et.gr/idocs-nph/search/pdfViewerForm.html?args=5C7QrtC22wE4q6ggiv8WTXdtvSoClrL8vQU7OEDJhqR5MXD0LzQTLWPU9yLzB8V68knBzLCmTXKaO6fpVZ6Lx3UnKl3nP8NxdnJ5r9cmWyJWelDvWS_18kAEhATUkJb0x1LIdQ163nV9K--td6SIuQUfSQ1w5CVMqz9ZWhjUOKV1bb3issVkctLv81e8PjIh
  121. ^ http://www.parlament.hu/internet/plsql/ogy_irom.irom_adat?p_ckl=40&p_izon=1960
  122. "Tuesday, 27 January 2015 Dáil Éireann Debate - Unrevised - EU Association Agreement with Ukraine: Motion". http://www.oireachtas.ie. Office of the Houses of the Oireachtas. Retrieved 28 January 2015. {{cite web}}: External link in |website= (help)
  123. https://www.dfa.ie/our-role-policies/international-priorities/international-law/treaties/
  124. ^ http://www.senato.it/leg/17/BGT/Schede/Ddliter/45547.htm
  125. http://www.camera.it/leg17/126?tab=1&leg=17&idDocumento=3053&sede=&tipo=
  126. http://www.quirinale.it/qrnw/statico/attivita/attifirmati/sett_atti.asp?Atti=sett/2015_m09d28.htm
  127. "Latvia ratifies EU-Ukraine Association Agreement". www.ukrinform.ua. Ukrinform. 14 July 2014. Retrieved 14 July 2014.
  128. "Darba kārtība". Retrieved 23 October 2014.
  129. "Par Asociācijas nolīgumu starp Eiropas Savienību un Eiropas Atomenerģijas kopienu un to dalībvalstīm, no vienas puses, un Ukrainu, no otras puses". www.vestnesis.lv. Retrieved 23 October 2014.
  130. "Seimas has ratified the EU Association Agreements with Ukraine, Moldova and Georgia". www.lrs.lt. Seimas of the Republic of Lithuania. 8 July 2014. Retrieved 14 July 2014.
  131. "Lietuvos Respublikos Seimas - Svarstymo eiga". Retrieved 23 October 2014.
  132. "Lietuvos Respublikos Seimas - Document Text". Retrieved 23 October 2014.
  133. "6732 - Projet de loi portant approbation de l'accord d'association entre l'Union européenne et la communauté européenne de l'énergie atomique et leurs Etats membres, d'une part, et l'Ukraine, d'autre part, signé à Bruxelles, le 27 juin 2014". Chamber of Deputies.
  134. http://www.legilux.public.lu/leg/a/archives/2015/0069/a069.pdf#page=2
  135. ^ "Maltese Ministry for Foreign Affairs memo on the Signature of Association Agreements with the Republic of Moldova, Georgia and Ukraine" (pdf). Maltese Ministry for Foreign Affairs. Retrieved 2 September 2014.
  136. ^ "Maltese European Union Act" (pdf). http://www.justiceservices.gov.mt/. Maltese Ministry for Justice, Culture and Local Government. Retrieved 2 September 2014. {{cite web}}: External link in |website= (help)
  137. ^ "Foreign and European Affairs Committee - Twelfth Legislature (2013 - ) Sitting Number: 22 - Monday, 21 July 2014". http://www.parlament.mt. Maltese House of Representatives. Retrieved 2 September 2014. {{cite web}}: External link in |website= (help)
  138. http://www.eerstekamer.nl/wetsvoorstel/34116_goedkeuring
  139. http://www.tweedekamer.nl/kamerstukken/wetsvoorstellen/detail?id=2014Z23830&dossier=34116
  140. "Wet van 8 juli 2015, houdende goedkeuring van de op 27 juni 2014 te Brussel tot stand gekomen Associatieovereenkomst tussen de Europese Unie en de Europese Gemeenschap voor Atoomenergie en haar lidstaten, enerzijds, en Oekraïne, anderzijds (Trb. 2014, 160)" (PDF). Eerste Kamer. 28 July 2015. Retrieved 13 September 2015.
  141. Visser, Jeroen (29 October 2015). "Referendum EU-verdrag met Oekraïne is op 6 april". De Volkskrant (in Dutch). Retrieved 29 October 2015. Bent u voor of tegen de wet tot goedkeuring van de Associatieovereenkomst tussen de Europese Unie en Oekraïne?
  142. "Ustawa o ratyfikacji Układu o stowarzyszeniu między Unią Europejską i Europejską Wspólnotą Energii Atomowej oraz ich państwami członkowskimi, z jednej strony, a Ukrainą, z drugiej strony, sporządzonego w Brukseli dnia 21 marca 2014 r. oraz dnia 27 czerwca 2014 r." Senat RP.
  143. http://www.sejm.gov.pl/sejm7.nsf/PrzebiegProc.xsp?nr=2833
  144. "Głosowanie nr 38 - posiedzenie 80". sejm.gov.pl. Sejm Rzeczypospolitej Polskiej. Retrieved 28 November 2014.
  145. "President ratifies EU-Ukraine association agreement". prezydent.pl. Prezydent Rzeczypospolitej Polskiej. Retrieved 27 March 2015.
  146. "Prezydent ratyfikował umowę stowarzyszeniową UE-Ukraina". prezydent.pl. Prezydent Rzeczypospolitej Polskiej. Retrieved 27 March 2015.
  147. "Ratification document of the EU-Ukraine association agreement signed on 2 march 2015 (PDF)" (PDF). prezydent.pl. Prezydent Rzeczypospolitej Polskiej. Retrieved 27 March 2015.
  148. http://www.parlamento.pt/ActividadeParlamentar/Paginas/DetalheIniciativa.aspx?BID=39003
  149. https://dre.pt/application/file/67058733
  150. "Votul electronic 02.07.2014". www.cdep.ro. ROMANIA Chamber of Deputies. 2 July 2014. Retrieved 15 July 2014.
  151. "STENOGRAMA şedinţei Senatului din 3 iulie 2014" (PDF). www.senat.ro. ROMANIA Senat. 3 July 2014. Retrieved 15 July 2014.
  152. "Decrete semnate de președintele României, domnul Traian Băsescu, miercuri, 9 iulie a.c." www.presidency.ro. ROMANIA President. 9 July 2014. Retrieved 15 July 2014.
  153. "Národná rada Slovenskej republiky - hlasovanie poslancov".
  154. ELET. "Prezident SR - Správy tlačového oddelenia". Retrieved 23 October 2014.
  155. http://www.dz-rs.si/wps/portal/Home/deloDZ/zakonodaja/izbranZakonAkt?uid=1D5403F051B7B7D9C1257E3E0043461F&db=pre_zak&mandat=VII
  156. "Словенія ратифікувала Угоду про асоціацію Україна – ЄС - Новини Посольства". slovenia.mfa.gov.ua. Retrieved 13 May 2015.
  157. http://www.uradni-list.si/_pdf/2015/Mp/m2015036.pdf#!/m2015036-pdf
  158. http://www.senado.es/web/actividadparlamentaria/iniciativas/detalleiniciativa/index.html?legis=10&id1=610&id2=000142
  159. http://www.senado.es/web/actividadparlamentaria/sesionesplenarias/pleno/rwdsesionespleno/detalle/votaciones/index.html?sp=73&legis=10&id1=70&id2=6051
  160. http://www.congreso.es/portal/page/portal/Congreso/Congreso/Iniciativas?_piref73_2148295_73_1335437_1335437.next_page=/wc/servidorCGI&CMD=VERLST&BASE=IW10&FMT=INITXDSS.fmt&DOCS=1-1&DOCORDER=FIFO&OPDEF=ADJ&QUERY=%28110%2F000142*.NDOC.%29
  161. http://www.riksdagen.se/sv/Dokument-Lagar/Utskottens-dokument/Betankanden/Arenden/201415/UU7/
  162. . Retrieved 23 October 2014. {{cite web}}: replacement character in |title= at position 1 (help)
  163. . Офiцiйне представництво Президента України. 16 September 2014. Retrieved 23 October 2014. {{cite web}}: replacement character in |title= at position 1 (help)
  164. http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/ld201415/ldhansrd/text/150309-0001.htm
  165. http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201415/cmhansrd/cm150223/debtext/150223-0004.htm
  166. http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2015/844/made
  167. http://www.rijksoverheid.nl/onderwerpen/democratie/raadgevend-referendum
  168. "Lifestream Kiesraad". Kiesraad. 14 October 2015. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |url= (help)
  169. "Inleidend verzoek referendum over associatieverdrag met Ukraine toegelaten". Kiesraad (Election Council) (in Dutch). Retrieved 26 September 2015.
  170. ^ http://eeas.europa.eu/ukraine/pdf/5_ua_title_iv_trade_and_trade-related_matters_en.pdf
  171. EU-Ukraine Summits: 16 Years of Wheel-Spinning, The Ukrainian Week (28 February 2012)
  172. EU launches talks on free trade agreement with Ukraine, International Herald Tribune
  173. Three outstanding issues remained in FTA agreement between Ukraine, EU, said Ukrainian PM, Bilaterals 31 May 2011
  174. "Ukraine, EU Initial Deep And Comprehensive Free Trade Agreement With EU". Ukrainian News Agency. 20 July 2012. Retrieved 29 July 2012.
  175. Kościński, Piotr; Vorobiov, Ievgen (20 August 2013). "Ukraine's EU deal: good or bad for the oligarchs?". Retrieved 21 August 2013.
  176. "Customs Union may withdraw from FTA with Ukraine if Kyiv signs association agreement with EU". Interfax. Russia Beyond the Headlines. 21 August 2013. Retrieved 10 December 2013.
  177. David M. Herszenhorn (22 November 2013). "Ukraine Blames I.M.F. for Halt to Agreements With Europe". New York Times. Retrieved 10 December 2013.
  178. Ambrose Evans-Pritchard (22 November 2013). "Historic defeat for EU as Ukraine returns to Kremlin control". Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 10 December 2013.
  179. MF not insisting on single-stage increase in tariffs, says resident representative in Ukraine, Interfax-Ukraine (7 December 2013)
  180. IMF links loan amount to Ukraine with reforms, Ukrinform (7 December 2013)
  181. Kyiv, Brussels conduct technical discussion of future EU-Ukraine dialogue on AA, Interfax-Ukraine (5 December 2013)
  182. Ukrainian government issues decree to suspend preparations for signing of association agreement with EU, Interfax-Ukraine (21 November 2013)
  183. Rada votes down all bills on allowing Tymoshenko's medical treatment abroad, Interfax-Ukraine (21 November 2013)
  184. Ukraine police dismantle Kiev protest camps, BBC News (9 December 2013)
  185. ^ Ukraine's sink or swim EU agreement, BBC News (27 June 2014)
  186. "Ukraine - Trade - European Commission". ec.europa.eu. Retrieved 5 September 2015.
  187. Van Rompuy, Herman (21 March 2014). "Statement by President of the European Council Herman Van Rompuy at the occasion of the signing ceremony of the political provisions of the Association Agreement between the European Union and Ukraine" (PDF). European Council. Retrieved 25 March 2014.
  188. "Association Agreement between EU and Ukraine". Press and Information Office. Federal Government of Germany. 21 March 2014. Retrieved 24 March 2014.
  189. "European Council March 2014: David Cameron's press conference". Speeches. Gov.UK. 21 March 2014. Retrieved 24 March 2014.
  190. "Russia hits at Ukraine with chocolate war". EurActiv. 14 August 2013. Retrieved 1 September 2013.
  191. Soldatkin, Vladimir; Polityuk, Pavel (15 August 2013). "Russia tightens customs rules to force Ukraine into union". Reuters.
  192. Marson, James (20 August 2013). "Russia Eases Customs Checks on Ukraine Imports". The Wall Street Journal.
  193. "Trading insults". The Economist Newspaper. 24 August 2013. Retrieved 1 September 2013.
  194. Putin’s aide calls opinion that all Ukrainians want European integration “sick self-delusion”, Interfax-Ukraine (21 August 2013)
  195. "Russia issues dark warning to Ukraine against EU trade and cooperation deal". FOX News Network. 21 September 2013. Retrieved 21 September 2013.
  196. "Ukraine's EU trade deal will be catastrophic, says Russia". The Guardian. 22 September 2013. Retrieved 30 September 2013.
  197. ^ "Putin warns Ukraine against EU pact". EUobserver. 23 August 2013. Retrieved 1 September 2013.
  198. Lukashenko sees no problems in Ukraine's signing association agreement with EU, Interfax-Ukraine (7 October 2013)
  199. "Ukraine PM tells Russia to accept "reality" of EU trade deal". Reuters. 28 August 2013. Retrieved 1 September 2013.
  200. "Ukraine Leader Ignores Putin Warning on EU Path". Voice of America. 24 August 2013. Retrieved 1 September 2013.
  201. "Putin 'deserves medal' for pushing Ukraine towards EU". Euractiv. 30 August 2013. Retrieved 1 September 2013.
  202. "О комплексе мер по вовлечению Украины в евразийский интеграционный процесс". Зеркало недели. Украина. 16 August 2013. Retrieved 1 September 2013.
  203. Solonyna, Yevhen (21 August 2013). "Does Russia Have a Secret Plan for Ukraine?". The Atlantic.
  204. Kramar, Oleksandr (6 August 2013). "Caught in a Zeitnot". The Ukrainian Week.
  205. "Senior Duma deputy warns Ukraine of 'semicolonial dependence' behind EU deal". TV-Novosti. 20 September 2013. Retrieved 20 September 2013.
  206. "Ukraine's agreement with EU won't influence its political relations with Russia - Putin". Interfax-Ukraine. 8 October 2013.
  207. "Canada Welcomes Ukraine's Signature of Association Agreement with EU". News Releases. Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development Canada. 21 March 2014. Retrieved 24 March 2014.
  208. https://wayback.archive.org/web/20140913151041/http://www.focus.de/politik/videos/russlands-drohung-zeigt-wirkung-eu-verschiebt-freihandelsabkommen-mit-ukraine_id_4130552.html
  209. "Freihandel mit Ukraine verzögert sich". DW.DE. Retrieved 23 October 2014.
  210. "EU und Ukraine - Durchlöchertes Assoziierungsabkommen". Süddeutsche.de. Retrieved 23 October 2014.

External link

Ukraine–European Union relations
Ukraine topics
European Union topics
Related
Ukraine Foreign relations of Ukraine
Africa Lesser coat of arms of Ukraine
Americas
Asia
Europe
Oceania
Multilateral relations
Disputes
Diplomatic missions
Foreign relations of the European Union
Bilateral relations
See also: Economic relationships with third countries
Africa
Americas
Asia
Europe
Oceania
Former
General
  • †= Disputed state, may not be recognised as an independent state by some or all European Union members.
Multilateral relations and initiatives
Organisations
Initiatives
Administration and policies
Foreign and Security Policy
Administration
Funding
Common Security and Defence Policy of the European Union
Leadership
Structure
External Action Service
Agencies
Council preparatory bodies
European Commission bodies
Funding
Policies
Equipment
Decorations
Related
Euromaidan and the Revolution of Dignity
21 November 2013 – 23 February 2014
Main
topics
Main
events
Aftermath
Elections
Main
places
European
integration
Protest
figures
Organizations
Lead figures
Anti-protest
figures
Organizations
Lead figures
War in Donbas (2014–2022)
General
topics
Timeline
Battles
Other
events
Self-proclaimed
states
(Pro-)
Russian
Organizations
Lead figures
Ukrainian
Organizations
Lead figures
Categories: