Est. 2min 18-07-2007 (updated: 28-05-2012 ) ferrero_waldner2.jpg Euractiv is part of the Trust Project >>> Languages: Français | DeutschPrint Email Facebook X LinkedIn WhatsApp Telegram A stable political situation following the September general elections is what it will take to bring Ukraine swiflty into the WTO and finalise an ‘enhanced agreement’ with the EU, said External Relations Commissioner Benita Ferrero-Waldner after a meeting with Foreign Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk in Brussels. Following a meeting with the Ukrainian Foreign Minister on 17 July in Brussels, Ferrero-Waldner said there was “good progress on the enhanced agreement” and only “some small open questions on Ukraine’s WTO accession” remaining. The EU is pushing for an “early accession” of its neighbouring country to the World Trade Organisation, in order to “pave the way for negotiations on a deep and comprehensive free trade agreement”, which is at the core of the new enhanced agreement. Ukraine hopes to join the WTO by the end of the year. However, the External Relations Commissioner also made clear that Ukraine should first overcome its internal political crisis and ensure that the upcoming elections on 30 September are “conducted in a fully democratic manner and in accordance with international standards”. Ukrainian Foreign Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk pledged that “Ukraine will have transparent, democratic and legitimate elections”. He said: “We realise that democratic elections are somehow interlinked with Ukraine-EU relations. That is why we are interested in having the most transparent elections we ever had.” Ferrero-Waldner stated that the agreement would be the “most advanced within our neighbourhood policy” and that the EU “will do everything to get it as soon as possible”. Yatsenyuk added that closer ties with the EU were “the choice of the Ukrainian population”. He said: “That’s why we don’t have any discrepancies within the political forces. Everyone backs European integration and our road towards the EU.” Read more with Euractiv Sarkozy sounds out basis for Mediterranean UnionFrench President Nicolas Sarkozy has stepped up efforts to gain support for his idea of a 'Mediterranean Union' in a visit to Algeria and Tunisia last week. However, there are many obstacles on the way to its realisation, scheduled to take place in 2008. Subscribe now to our newsletter EU Elections Decoded Email Address * Politics Newsletters Positions MEP Michael Gahler, member of the EPP-ED group and Vice Chairman of the European Parliament's Foreign Affairs Committee, said: "Ukraine now has the chance to determine itself the pace of its approach. Unfortunately, there is also some concern if such a demanding programme can actually be implemented. I therefore regard the upcoming parliamentary elections and the following formation of a government also as a test to see in which direction the country will develop." Secretary General of the Council of Europe, Terry Davis, said: "For Ukrainian leaders, the elections of 30 September are a test of international credibility, statesmanship and responsibility." He added: "I am confident that the Ukrainian authorities are committed to the discharge of their duties, but everyone must cooperate with them. Everyone must understand that the world is watching." The WWF criticised the EU ahead of the meeting and argued it should not reward Ukraine for its poor environmental record. In a statement, the NGO said: "The European Commission and member states have approved allocation of an additional €22 million to Ukraine to acknowledge the progress made in implementing the agreed reform agenda in the framework of the European Neighbourhood Policy. WWF believes Ukraine should not be awarded 'prize money', given its poor record on environmental governance, regional cooperation on environmental issues, respect for international agreements, and actions to prevent deterioration and sustainably manage natural resources; all key parts of the EU-Ukraine Action Plan." BackgroundThe EU on several occasions has urged Ukraine to overcome its internal political crisis, which broke out in April when President Yushchenko called for early elections, which Prime Minister Yanukovich has refused up to now. The two political leaders have been rivals since the 2004 Orange Revolution. Negotiations on a new "enhanced agreement", which would include a free-trade area and increased energy co-operation, were launched on 5 March 2007. Timeline 14 Sept.: EU-Ukraine Summit. 30 Sept.: Ukraine holds early elections. Further ReadingEU official documents Council:Javier Solana, EU High Representative for the CFSP, met Ukrainian Foreign Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk(17 July 2007) Commission:EU - Ukraine Relations Press articles International Herald Tribune:Ukraine hopes for early WTO membership, free trade talks with EU(17 July 2007)
