EU-Ukraine Association Council welcomes results of Ukraine's integration with European Union

29.01.2020 09:46

Ukrinform

The European Union and Ukraine held the sixth meeting of the Association Council on 28 January 2020 in Brussels. This was the first Association Council chaired by Oleksiy Honcharuk, Prime Minister of Ukraine, and the EU delegation was led by Josep Borrell, High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy/Vice-President of the European Commission. The parties approved the joint press statement.

“The Association Council welcomed the ambitious plans of the Government of Ukraine and confirmed the continued assistance to Ukraine from the European Union. In addition, the strengthening of political association, economic integration of Ukraine with the European Union and concrete results on the path, such as the growth of bilateral trade, were praised,” the Government portal reports.

In the joint statement, the Association Council welcomed the reform efforts by Ukraine and the significant progress already achieved. Both sides agreed on the need for Ukraine to continue strengthening the rule of law and structural reforms, necessary, inter alia, to create a transparent level playing field and attractive business and investment climate in Ukraine.

The Association Council welcomed in particular recent steps by the Government of Ukraine in launching the High Anti-Corruption Court, the relaunching of the National Agency for Corruption Prevention and re-criminalisation of illicit enrichment. It also noted that the Constitutional Court had declared unconstitutional the electronic asset declaration requirement for civil society activists.

The Association Council welcomed Ukraine's aspirations to further approximate its national legislation with the EU acquis in the area of the digital economy, underlining the importance of full implementation of the commitments under the Association Agreement. The EU reiterated its readiness to further support Ukraine's digital transformation, including through a programme on e-governance and digital economy. The parties agreed to further cooperate in tackling cyber and hybrid threats as well as disinformation.

In addition, the Association Council reaffirmed Ukraine's role as a strategic transit country for gas. Both sides agreed on the importance of continued implementation of reforms in the energy sector, including to ensure the independence of the Energy Regulator and Nuclear Regulatory Inspectorate and to create a competitive and transparent electricity market. The Association Council took note of the amended gas directive. Both sides agreed on the importance of further approximation of gas rules between the EU and Ukraine.

As part of the European Green Deal, the parties agreed to further cooperate on decarbonisation and environmental protection. The parties agreed on the need for ambitious climate and environmental policies, including to meet the commitments under the Paris Agreement.

The Association Council noted the importance of engaging the regions of Ukraine and the steps by Ukraine to establish offices in its regions aimed at supporting their ties with the EU.

The EU reiterated its unwavering support and commitment to Ukraine's independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity within its internationally recognised borders. Both sides reiterated their strong condemnation of the clear violation of Ukrainian sovereignty and territorial integrity by acts of aggression by the Russian armed forces since February 2014. The Association Council agreed on the need for full implementation of the Minsk agreements by all sides, underlining Russia's responsibility in this regard. The EU recalled that the duration of economic sanctions against the Russian Federation remain linked to the complete implementation of the Minsk agreements.

The EU reaffirmed its policy of non-recognition of the illegal annexation of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea and the City of Sevastopol by Russia. The Association Council condemned the deterioration of the human rights situation in the Crimean peninsula and in the non-government controlled areas of Donetsk and Luhansk regions.

The Association Council condemned the conduct of Russian local elections in the illegally annexed Crimea and Sevastopol on 8 September 2019, the building of the Kerch Strait Bridge without Ukraine's consent, the opening of the railway link on 23 December, and the further militarisation of the peninsula as well as of the Black and Azov Seas. The Association Council called on Russia to ensure unhindered and free passage to and from the Sea of Azov, in accordance with international law.