History Ukraine–European Union Association Agreement

1 history

1.1 initial steps
1.2 stalling
1.3 signing

history

on 22 july 2008, announced stabilisation , association -type agreement signed between ukraine , european union. however, in 2011 european union high representative foreign affairs, catherine ashton, warned ukraine although talks european union association agreement ukraine continue, ratification process of treaty face problems if there no reversal in approach of ukrainian authorities towards trial of former prime minister of ukraine yulia tymoshenko. association agreement has ratified member states , european parliament document take effect. sentencing of tymoshenko 7 years in prison on 11 october 2011 met national , international protest , threatened ukraine–european union relations. tymoshenko herself stated imprisonment should not stop european union establishing closer ties ukraine. signing of association agreement between ukraine , european union, although finalised, postponed on 19 december 2011. according joint statement ukraine , eu adopted on ukraine-eu summit, ratification of treaty depended on ukraine s respect common values , rule of law independent judiciary . european commissioner enlargement , european neighbourhood policy, Štefan füle, stated on 27 february 2012 hoped association agreement initialed within month , saw signed next autumn. noted need action in 6 key areas (mainly juridical reform , democratic freedoms). on 29 february 2012 european people s party demanded immediate release of yulia tymoshenko, yuriy lutsenko , other political prisoners, , insisted association agreement between ukraine , european union should not signed , ratified until these demands met.

initial steps

the eu association agreement (aa) initialed on 30 march 2012 in brussels; treatment , sentencing (considered eu leaders politically motivated trial) of former prime minister of ukraine yulia tymoshenko had strained relations between eu , ukraine. european union , several of member states, notably germany, had pressured ukrainian president viktor yanukovich , azarov government halt detention of tymoshenko in fear of degrading health. several meetings yanukovich had been deserted eu leaders, including german president joachim gauck.

at request of opposition politicians in ukraine, eu government officials boycotted uefa euro 2012 championship in ukraine. eu leaders suggested aa, , deep , comprehensive free trade area, not ratified unless ukraine addressed concerns on stark deterioration of democracy , rule of law , including imprisonment of tymoshenko , yuriy lutsenko in 2011 , 2012.

a 10 december 2012 statement eu foreign affairs council reaffirms commitment signing of initialed association agreement, including deep , comprehensive free trade area, ukrainian authorities demonstrate determined action , tangible progress in 3 areas mentioned above, possibly time of eastern partnership summit in vilnius in november 2013 . these 3 areas are: electoral, judiciary , constitutional reforms (in line international standards integral parts of , commonly agreed priorities) .

kostiantyn yelisieiev, ukraine s ambassador eu, responded in february 2013 rejecting preconditions eu signing aa. however, on 22 february 2013 resolution approved 315 of 349 registered members of verkhovna rada stating within powers parliament ensure 10 december 2012 eu foreign affairs council recommendations implemented. @ 16th eu-ukraine summit of 25 february 2013, president of european council, herman van rompuy, followed on december 2012 eu foreign affairs council statement reiterating eu s call determined action , tangible progress in these areas – @ latest may, year . same day president yanukovych stated ukraine best satisfy eu s requirements. @ time president yanukovych in negotiations russia find right model cooperation customs union of belarus, kazakhstan , russia. on 25 february 2013 president of european commission josé manuel barroso made clear 1 country cannot @ same time member of customs union , in deep common free-trade area european union .

to coordinate preparation of ukraine european integration, government of ukraine adopted plan on priority measures european integration of ukraine 2013. successful implementation of plan assumed 1 of conditions necessary signing of association agreement, planned 29 november 2013 during eastern partnership summit in vilnius.

in march 2013, stefan fuele, eu s commissioner enlargement, informed european parliament while ukrainian authorities had given unequivocal commitment address issues raised eu, several disturbing recent incidents, including annulment of tymoshenko s lawyer serhiy vlasenko s mandate in verkhovna rada (ukraine s parliament), delay signing of agreements. however, next day ukrainian ministry of foreign affairs expressed optimism still signed in november. on 7 april 2013 decree president yanukovych freed lutsenko prison , exempted him, , fellow minister in second tymoshenko government heorhiy filipchuk, further punishment. on 3 september 2013, @ opening session of verkhovna rada after summer recess, president yanukovych urged parliament adopt laws ukraine meet eu criteria , able sign association agreement in november 2013. on 18 september ukrainian cabinet unanimously approved draft association agreement. on 25 september 2013 chairman of verkhovna rada volodymyr rybak stated sure parliament pass laws needed fit eu criteria association agreement since, except communist party of ukraine, verkhovna rada has united around these bills . on 20 november 2013 eu s commissioner enlargement, stefan fuele, stated expected verkhovna rada next day consider , adopt remaining bills necessary signing of association agreement, planned 29 november 2013.

stalling



—josé manuel barroso, president of european commission, @ 28–29 november 2013 eu summit in vilnius (29 november 2013)

on 21 november 2013 verkhovna rada failed pass of 6 motions on allowing former prime minister yulia tymoshenko receive medical treatment abroad, eu demand signing association agreement. same week tymoshenko had stated ready ask eu drop demand freedom if meant president viktor yanukovych sign association agreement. same day ukrainian government decree suspended preparations signing of association agreement; instead proposed creation of three-way trade commission between ukraine, european union , russia resolve trade issues between sides. prime minister mykola azarov issued decree in order ensure national security of ukraine , in consideration of possible ramifications of trade russia (and other cis countries) if agreement signed on 28–29 november summit in vilnius. according ukrainian deputy prime minister yuriy boyko ukraine resume preparing agreement when drop in industrial production , our relations cis countries compensated european market, otherwise our country s economy sustain serious damage . eu diplomats more skeptical of reasons put forward. later on 21 november 2013, russian presidential press secretary, dmitry peskov, called ukrainian decree strictly internal , sovereign decision of country, , think have no right comment on , stated russia prepared have tripartite negotiations ukraine , eu on trade , economic issues. european parliament s monitoring mission in ukraine stated (also on 21 november 2013) there still possibility sign eu-ukraine association agreement. same day ukrainian president viktor yanukovych stated alternative reforms in ukraine , alternative european integration not exist...we walking along path , not changing direction .

in following days, euromaidan, biggest protests since orange revolution, being held in kyiv opposition parties. on 26 november 2013 ukrainian government admitted russia had asked delay signing eu association agreement , wanted better terms eu deal . reach level comfortable us, when meets our interests, when agree on normal terms, talking signing, president yanukovych stated in televised interview. same day russian president vladimir putin called end criticism of ukrainian decision delay association agreement, , eu deal bad russia s security interests. putin responding statements president of european council, herman van rompuy, , president of european commission, josé manuel barroso, had stated disapproved of russia s actions. on 26 november 2013 prime minister azarov stated during government meeting affirm full authority negotiating process on association agreement continuing, , work on moving our country closer european standards not stopping single day . president yanukovych still attended 28–29 november eu summit in vilnius association agreement not signed. during summit european union , ukraine initialed air services agreement. during summit, president yanukovych stated ukraine still wanted sign association agreement needed substantial financial aid compensate threatened response russia, , proposed starting three-way talks between russia, ukraine, , eu. urged brussels ukraine soften terms of possible loan imf. eu rejected trilateral talks , asked yanukovich commit sign association agreement, refused do. @ end of summit president of european commission josé manuel barroso stated eu not tolerate veto of third country in negotiations on closer integration ukraine. stated embarked on long journey, helping ukraine become, others, call now, new member states . have set aside short-term political calculations.

the president of european council, herman van rompuy, added may not give in external pressure, least of russia . barroso reiterated eu s offer ukraine in terms of signing association agreement remained on table. simultaneously, president yanukovych stated still intends sign association agreement @ later date once down work , find solutions economic problems, when opportunity sign strategic partnership agreement russia , else need do, normal relations can established between european union, russia, , ukraine… our responsibility .

signing

pro-russian president viktor yanukovych removed power ukrainian parliament majority vote after 2014 ukrainian revolution , replaced new interim government in february 2014. @ eu summit in brussels on 21 march 2014, new ukrainian prime minister, arseniy yatseniuk, , european union leaders herman van rompuy , josé manuel barroso, along 28 national political leaders or heads of state on european council, signed in brussels political provisions of aa, dcfta signed after presidential election in may 2014. european union , (then) new ukrainian president petro poroshenko signed economic part of ukraine–european union association agreement on 27 june 2014, , described ukraine s first decisive step towards eu membership. president of european council, herman van rompuy, said @ signing ceremony: in kyiv , elsewhere, people gave lives closer link european union. not forget this.

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