About: DCFTA

Commission reassures member states about meat market crisis risks

Some EU ministers raised concerns about external market disturbances in the meat sector coming from Ukraine and Brexit during a meeting on Monday (18 March) but Commissioner for Agriculture Phil Hogan pledged to fight fire with fire.

Ukraine says DCFTAs outdated, need deep review

One of the key messages from the EURACTIV debate on the Eastern Partnership – “Georgia, Moldova, Ukraine and the EU: The Road to 2020” held on March 20 in Brussels was that the Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Agreements with these countries need a revamp.

Moldovan PM and President clash over Eurasian Union rapprochement

The Prime Minister of Moldova Pavel Filip has sent an angry letter to the country’s pro-Russian President Igor Dodon, qualifying as “reckless” his request for observer status to the Moscow-led Eurasian Union and for the signature of a Memorandum of Understanding with this organisation.

Trump’s Russia policy looms large over EU-Ukraine summit

The EU-Ukraine 18^th summit to be held on Thursday (24 November) is expected to discuss the consequences of an expected distancing of Washington from Kyiv, and the need for Brussels to do more in assisting the pro-Western government of President Petro Poroshenko.

Ukrainian First Deputy PM: The Dutch cannot block the whole EU

The Netherlands cannot block the European Union over the ratification of the EU-Ukraine Association agreement, Ukraine’s First Deputy Prime Minister Stepan Kubiv told EURACTIV.com in an exclusive interview.

Auditors expose failures in EU assistance to Moldova

The European Court of Auditors published a very critical assessment  today (1 September) of the way the Commission spends EU money in Moldova, a country associated with the EU and with an ambition to join the Union in the longer term.

Ukraine ‘ready to pay the price’ for trade pact with EU

Ukraine is "ready to pay the price" for a trade deal with the European Union, President Petro Poroshenko said on Wednesday (16 December), after Moscow moved to restrict its own trade ties with Kyiv over the accord that is due to take effect on 1 January.

Russia likely to curb Ukraine imports over EU pact

Russia is likely to penalise Ukrainian imports from January after EU-brokered talks failed to find a compromise yesterday (1 December), exactly a month before the launch of an EU-Ukraine free trade pact that Russia opposes.

EU expands Tunisian olive oil imports ahead of trade talks

With its announcement on Thursday (17 September) that it is expanding its import quota of olive oil from Tunisia, the European Union signaled it is preparing for fresh trade talks with the North African country. Borderlex reports.

Juncker encourages Poroshenko to continue reforms

European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker expressed strong support for his guest, Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko, who arrived in Brussels on Thursday (27 August), encouraging him to continue reforms and fully implement the Minsk agreement.

Ukraine wants roadmap to EU accession at Riga summit

Ukraine's foreign minister said his country wants assurances at a summit with the European Union this week that it is a suitable candidate for EU membership, and that its citizens will gain visa-free travel to the bloc next year.

EBS: Ukrainian ex-premier, EU say no more trade delays

The EU said on Thursday it would not bow to Russian demands to further delay the planned January 2016 implementation of a free trade deal with Ukraine, which is bitterly opposed by Moscow.

EU to postpone Ukraine free trade pact to 2016

The European Union will begin implementing the Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Agreement (DCFTA) with Ukraine in 2016, despite Russian pressure for another delay, according to a draft statement prepared for a summit with six of the bloc's eastern neighbours this month in Riga.

EU-Ukraine summit clouded by worsening violence

Top European Union officials met the Ukrainian leadership on Monday for talks on deepening trade links and efforts to bring peace to Ukraine, but worsening violence in the separatist-minded east clouded the summit.

EU pushing Ukraine towards trilateral free trade, with Russia

Fearing that Russia could retaliate against Ukraine following the entry into force of the Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Agreement (DCFTA) later this year, the European Commission is now pushing Ukraine to agree to a trilateral trade format, including Russia.

Difficult coalition talks expected after Moldova election

Moldova's three main pro-Europe parties appeared on course to be able to form a new coalition government, with most of the vote from an election yesterday (30 November) counted, despite the pro-Moscow Socialist Party taking first place, analysts said today.

Georgian PM sacks pro-Western defence minister

Georgian Prime Minister Irakly Garibashvili fired his defence minister yesterday (4 November) hours after he criticised the arrests of several officials in his ministry as politically-motivated and aimed at those who favour better relations with the West.

Putin warns Ukraine against implementing EU pact

Moscow will curtail Ukraine's access to vital Russian markets if Kyiv implements any part of a trade agreement with the European Union, President Vladimir Putin warned in a letter, toughening his stance on a deal at the centre of East-West tensions.

Russia slams Washington for fuelling Ukraine crisis

Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov blamed the USA and some of their closest political friends in the EU and Ukraine for sowing discord between Ukraine and Russia and driving “a deep and wide wedge between Russia and Europe”.

Ukraine, EU to ratify Association Agreement simultaneously

The European Parliament and Ukraine will ratify the country’s Association Agreement (AA) simultaneously, during the 15-18 September session, EURACTIV has learned. The signing of the AA led to the conflict currently under way between Ukraine and Russia.

EU foreign ministers gather in Moldova in show of support

Federica Mogherini, the newly appointed head of the EU diplomatic service, met with several EU foreign affairs ministers in Chisinau, Moldova yesterday (1 September) in a sign of support for the country. This was Mogherini’s first official trip abroad, after being appointed to be the next EU foreign affairs chief.

Putin and Poroshenko shake hands, but discord prevails

The meeting between the Russian President Vladimir Putin and his Ukrainian counterpart Petro Poroshenko in Minsk Tuesday (26 August) will be remembered by their handshake. But there was no sign of progress on the fundamental point of disagreement: Ukraine's charges that Moscow is sending arms and fighters to help Ukrainian rebels, and Russia's adamant denials.

Russia imposes ‘temporary ban’ on Moldovan fruits

Russia imposed a temporary ban on Moldovan fruit imports on Friday (18 July), adding to an already existing ban on wine imports, the measures being seen as a punishment for Moldova’s signature and ratification of an Association Agreement with the EU.

Russia defies Moldova’s EU pact by boosting Transnistria trade

Moscow said yesterday (2 July) tying Moldova closer to the EU violated the rights of the people in the former Soviet republic's breakaway, Russian-speaking region of Transnistria and said it would foster closer ties with the enclave.