Press Release: Commission proposes negotiating directives for enhanced agreement with Ukraine

The European Commission has proposed negotiating directives for a new enhanced agreement with Ukraine to replace the existing Partnership and Co-operation Agreement. The enhanced agreement should take a comprehensive and ambitious approach and include a Free Trade Area. The proposed negotiating directives will now go the Council of Ministers for approval, with a view to beginning negotiations early in 2007. The decision comes on the eve of the first visit of the new Ukrainian Prime Minister to Brussels. Prime Minister Viktor Yanukovitch will meet Vice President Günther Verheugen and Commissioner for External Relations and European Neighbourhood Policy Benita Ferrero-Waldner, and will take part in the EU-Ukraine Co-operation Council.