Dialogue Between EU and Ukraine Should Envision Future Membership - British MP

KYIV, Ukraine, June 24, 2011 -

The head of the British delegation to the Parliamentary
Assembly of the Council of Europe Robert Walter believes that
dialogue with Ukraine needs to be conducted keeping in mind the
country‘s future membership in the European
Union. “The need for deepening and developing the
relationship with Ukraine is natural and needs to be conducted in
line with future EU membership of the country,“ said
Walter, commenting on the Ukrainian President‘s
speech at PACE.

The president’s speech highlighted the matters of Ukrainian
Chairmanship of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of
Europe. The main focus of the address was the European security and
human rights protection in Europe as well as the ongoing reforms in
Ukraine in the areas of constitutional law, parliamentary election
procedures and corruption prevention.

Robert Walter believes Viktor Yanukovych sounded convincing
while talking about domestic reforms. According to the British
politician, Ukrainian president made it clear that Ukraine is
taking its commitments to adjust legislation in the way that will
allow establishment and development of the democratic institutions
seriously. “I cannot speak on behalf of the EU but as a
representative of the EU member I would like to underline the
importance of development of relations with Ukraine in this
direction [European integration - ed.],” said Walter. “Ukraine is
an important Black Sea country for Europe,” he continued.

Presently, European integration is one of the foreign policy
priorities for Ukraine. Signing the Free Trade Agreement is the
main short-term goal of the Ukrainian integration process. The
17^th round of negotiations with the EU on the Free Trade
Agreement is ending today with Ukrainian officials hoping to sign
the Free Trade Agreement by October 2011 and agree upon the
Association Agreement provisions in December. According to the
European Parliament Policy Department administrator Inna Kirsch,
the Association Agreement is planned to be signed by summer 2012
while all the provisions of the document are to be settled at the
Ukraine-EU summit in December this year.

Before signing the Agreement Ukraine is required to implement
reforms to arrange for security and freedom as well as bring
Ukrainian legislation in compliance with European standards.
 

For more information, please contact Maryna Khorunzha +380-443324784 news at wnu-ukraine.com, Project Manager at Worldwide News Ukraine