MEP: EU Parliament Resolution Promotes Membership Perspective for Ukraine

KYIV, Ukraine, October 26, 2011 -

The member of the European Parliament Alexander Mirsky stated that the perspective of the membership of Ukraine in the EU needed to be included in the Association Agreement, reports Ukrinform. According to the Latvian parliamentarian, the preliminary draft of the resolution of the European Parliament on Ukraine includes such a statement. The MEP also accentuated the fact that the Association Agreement was mutually advantageous.

The European politician informed that the draft resolution of the European Parliament on Ukraine had been agreed upon on October 25, 2011. According to Mirsky, the draft includes the statement about the need to provide Ukraine with the membership perspective in the text of the Association Agreement. Mirsky reckoned that the statement was there to stay, unless the members of the European People’s Party would prevent this from happening. The final vote on the document is scheduled on November 3, 2011.

Alexander Mirsky highlighted that Europe needs Ukraine. The member of the EU Parliament noted that if it were not for the significant mutual benefits of the Association Agreement Europe would probably have shown Ukraine the door. “There will be no favors or gifts. This agreement is mutually beneficial,” said Mirsky.

The European Parlamentarian noted that in case the Agreement is not signed it would hurt the regular Ukrainian people. The parliamentarian thinks that Ukrainians should not be blamed for not having brought its legislation to European standards earlier. In this respect he does not consider the situation with Yulia Tymoshenko a reason enough to delay the signing of the agreement.

Currently, Ukraine is holding the 20^th round of negotiations on the Association Agreement with the EU. On October 25, 2011, the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Pavlo Klimkin stated that Ukraine insisted on mentioning the membership perspective in the body of the Association Agreement.

Earlier, on October 20, 2011, the parties agreed on all the key aspects of the trade related part of the Association Agreement during the course of the negotiations in Brussels. The Agreement on creating deep and comprehensive free trade zone will become a core part of the Association Agreement, negotiated since 2007. Kyiv and Brussels expect to sign the agreement by the end of 2011.

For more information, contact Maria Ivanova +380443324784 news at wnu-ukraine.com, Project Manager at Worldwide News Ukraine.