BELGIUM: European Union signs landmark political association agreement with Ukraine

Record ID: 859357

  • Title: BELGIUM: European Union signs landmark political association agreement with Ukraine
  • Date: 21st March 2014
  • Summary: BRUSSELS, BELGIUM (MARCH 21, 2014) (REUTERS) POLICE CARS OUTSIDE EUROPEAN UNION (EU) COUNCIL BUILDING FLAGS OUTSIDE EU COUNCIL
  • Embargoed: 5th April 2014 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Belgium
  • City:
  • Country: Belgium
  • Topics: European Union,Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVAXY1Y1RGDOSUEJL76XIVDWZPI
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  • Story Text: The European Union (EU) and Ukraine signed the core elements of a political association agreement on Friday (March 21), committing to the same deal former president Viktor Yanukovich rejected last November, a move which led to his overthrow.
    "This gesture symbolises the importance that both sides attach to this relationship and our joint will to take it further. It recognises the aspirations of the people of Ukraine to live in a country governed by values, by democracy and the rule of law," EU Council President Herman Van Rompuy told leaders of the 28 bloc's nations, EU Commission President Jose Manuel and Ukrainian President Arseny Yatseniuk before signing the core chapters of the Association Agreement on the sidelines of an EU summit in Brussels.
    The deal commits Ukraine and the EU to closer political and economic cooperation, although more substantial parts of the agreement concerning free trade will only be signed after Ukraine has held new presidential elections in May.
    Yatseniuk said the agreement would bring Ukraine closer to the country's ultimate goal of becoming a full EU member.
    "This is the historic day for my country and we believe this is the historic day for the Europe. We want to be a part of big European family and this is the first tremendous step in order for Ukraine to achieve its ultimate goal: the fully-fledged membership," he said.
    Two sets of the documents were passed around the table for the EU's leaders and Yatseniuk to sign in a solemn atmosphere. Van Rompuy and Yatseniuk then shook hands and exchanged the documents to applause.
    "This deal covers most existential and most important issues, mainly security and defence cooperation. This deal will establish a joint decision making body which is to facilitate the process of real reforms of my country and this deal meets an aspirations of millions of Ukrainians that want to be part of the European Union," Yatseniuk told media after the signing ceremony.
    Yanukovich turned his back on signing the EU agreement last November in favour of closer ties with Moscow, prompting months of street protests that eventually led to his fleeing the country. Soon afterwards, Russian forces occupied Crimea, drawing outrage and sanctions from the United States and EU.
    During the summit, leaders are also discussing how to make the EU and Ukraine less depended on Russian energy supplies.
    "It is essential for all of us to speak in one single voice, in order not to give anyone, including Russia to use energy as a new nuclear weapon," Yatseniuk said.
    As well as the closer political ties, the European Commission has agreed to extend nearly 500 million euros worth of trade benefits to Ukraine, removing customs duties on a wide range of agricultural goods, textiles and other imports.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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