Divisions over Ukraine’s EU ambitions

Fresh disagreements have emerged over Ukraine’s EU membership bid as member states discuss a new bilateral agreement with the country.

Member states are divided over how to refer to Ukraine’s EU ambit-ions in the text of the "enhanced agreement".

The deal is expected substantially to boost trade and political ties between Ukraine and the EU, but Kiev has demanded that it be given a clear prospect of EU membership.

New member states and Nordic countries as well as the UK support attempts explicitly to call for the EU and Ukraine to "go beyond co-operation".

But France has voiced disagreement, arguing that this would send the wrong signal and could confuse the European neighbourhood policy - of which Ukraine is a part - with enlargement.

The Netherlands has backed the French position, while Belgium, Luxembourg and Portugal have called for no explicit reference to Ukraine’s ambitions at this stage.

EU ambassadors will later today (18 January) try to approve the EU’s negotiating position in talks, but foreign ministers are expected to pick up the issue when they meet in Brussels on Monday (22 January).

Fresh disagreements have emerged over Ukraine’s EU membership bid as member states discuss a new bilateral agreement with the country.