| Author (Person) | Beatty, Andrew |
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| Series Title | European Voice |
| Series Details | Vol.11, No.3, 27.1.05 |
| Publication Date | 27/01/2005 |
| Content Type | News |
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By Andrew Beatty Date: 27/01/05 Viktor Yushchenko, the Ukrainian president, has stepped up calls for the European Union to open the doors to his country, amid a widening split between Kiev and Brussels over Ukraine's bid to become an EU member. On the eve of a visit to Brussels, where he is to address the European Parliament today (27 January), Yushchenko told a Council of Europe session in Strasbourg that Ukraine should start its road to EU membership by 2007. He was to press strongly his country's case before MEPs, who are widely seen as supportive of Ukraine's bid to join the EU. The Council of Ministers and the European Commission are more sceptical. Despite the recent democratic elections, the EU has been reticent about opening its doors to Ukraine. Earlier this week the Commission set out ten measures to deepen ties with Ukraine, but stopped well short of offering the prospect of EU membership. "The EU is not disposed to do that for now," External Relations Commissioner Benita Ferrero-Waldner told the Parliament. The Commission instead promised to speed up work on assessing Ukraine's progress towards becoming a market economy, supporting Ukrainian membership of the World Trade Organization and analysing the possibility of an EU-Ukraine free trade zone. Deals on steel quotas and EU visas, both big domestic issues in Ukraine, are also on the table. But perhaps the biggest carrot for Ukraine will be the announcement that the Political Co-operation Agreement with the EU - which runs out at the end of 2007 - will be replaced by an 'enhanced agreement'. Ukraine and its supporters hope that this agreement could provide a bridge to an association agreement, which is widely seen as a precursor for membership. But as one diplomat remarked, "the member states still have quite different views" on full membership. With internal Ukrainian politics still in flux, some in the EU are keen to see that Yushchenko's appointment is more than a change of guard. France and Germany are among the most sceptical, fearing that the Union would be over-stretched if it enlarges to a country of almost 50 million people. They also fear that closer ties with Ukraine would harm their relations with Russia. Despite Yushchenko's recent visit to Moscow, tensions between the two countries remain high. Russia's prosecutor general said on Wednesday (26 January) that he would pursue a bribery case against Yulia Timoshenko, Ukraine's prime minister-designate. EU foreign ministers are set to discuss relations with the Ukraine next Monday (31 January) when they meet in Brussels. But Kiev looks ready to press ahead nevertheless. Yuschenko pledged that the Ukraine would do more to bring its legislation in line with that of the EU. Speaking to the Council of Europe on 26 January 2005, Ukraine's President, Viktor Yushchenko, said that Ukraine should start its road to EU membership by 2007. On 27 January, Yushchenko spoke to the European Parliament. Article summarises the discussion on Ukraine's prospect for future EU membership. |
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| Source Link | http://www.european-voice.com/ |
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| Countries / Regions | Ukraine |
