15 September EU-Ukraine summit

Date: 21/09/00

EUROPEAN Commission President Romano Prodi promised to unblock aid for Ukraine once the International Monetary Fund (IMF) has approved Kiev's reform programme. He told Ukrainian President Leonid Kuchma that the Union would release 92 million euro in financial assistance for Ukraine once the IMF agrees to resume its lending to the former Soviet republic. IMF officials have been examining Kiev's reform strategy this week, but said they needed to see credible budget plans for 2001 before they would agree to unfreeze the Fund's 3 billion euro package for the country.

PRODI also confirmed that he would support Kiev's application to join the World Trade Organisation, but declined to comment on Ukraine's hopes of becoming a member by the end of next year. Kuchma said joining the WTO would be a first step in his country's long-term plan to become a member of the Union.

FRENCH President Jacques Chirac welcomed Kiev's efforts to draw closer to the EU, but said it was too early to speak of membership.

Chirac also pledged that the Union would provide financial aid to finish building two nuclear reactors to replace the Chernobyl plant, which will be closed on 15 December. “We will authorise the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development and Euratom to finance the completion of the plants,” he said. Some EU governments want Ukraine to consider using non-nuclear energy sources to replace the generating capacity lost by the closure of Chernobyl.