JOINT STATEMENT
The leaders of the European Union and Ukraine met in Kyiv, at
the annual EU-Ukraine Summit – the first following the entry into force
of the Treaty of Lisbon on December 1st. The Summit was hosted by Mr
Viktor Yushchenko, President of Ukraine, accompanied by Mr Petro
Poroshenko, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine. The EU was
represented by Mr Fredrik Reinfeldt, Prime Minister of Sweden in his
capacity as President of the European Council; and by the President of
the European Commission, Mr Jose Manuel Durao Barroso. The President of
the European Council was accompanied by Foreign Minister Mr Carl Bildt.
The President of the European Commission was accompanied by the
Commissioner for Trade and European Neighbourhood Policy, Mrs Benita
Ferrero-Waldner.
Recognizing that Ukraine as a European country shares a common
history and common values with the countries of the European Union,
acknowledging the European aspirations of Ukraine and welcoming its
European choice, the Presidents welcomed the substantial advances made
in EU-Ukraine relations in the past year in all areas of mutual
interest including through cooperation on foreign policy and security
policy issues; the economic and financial sectors; the energy sphere
and in the area of environment and climate and in justice, freedom and
security matters as well as many other sectors.
Internal developments in the EU and Ukraine
The leaders of the EU and Ukraine discussed the Ukrainian
presidential elections which will take place on 17 January 2010, as
well as the implementation of Ukraine’s on-going reform agenda. They
emphasized the crucial importance of these elections being conducted in
accordance with European and international standards for democratic
elections. They stressed the need for political and economic
stabilisation notably through constitutional reform, consolidation of
the rule of law and renewed efforts to combat corruption and improve
the business and investment climate. They called for increased efforts
to advance the reform process in Ukraine.
The leaders welcomed the completion of ratification process of the
Treaty of Lisbon, which will provide the European Union with
institutional framework necessary to meet future challenges.
Global challenges
The Presidents discussed the global economic and financial crisis
and its impact in the region. Noting the stability achieved over the
past twelve months with the support of the IMF Standby Arrangement, the
EU side called on Ukraine to ensure that the programme remained on
track and that necessary economic reforms were implemented in the
interests of economic stability and early recovery. The leaders
recalled the importance of cooperation in the trade area as a vehicle
for prosperity and stability. The leaders emphasised that protectionism
was not an answer to current difficulties and that the obligations and
responsibilities flowing from membership of the World Trade
Organisation should be respected in full. The leaders recognised the
potentially significant negative impact of the crisis in the region on
the unemployed and on the most vulnerable in society.
The leaders of the EU and Ukraine underlined that climate change is
one of the most important global challenges of our time which demands
urgent and cooperative action. Ukraine and the EU recognized the
scientific view that the increase in global average temperature above
pre-industrial levels ought not to exceed 2°C and that peaking of
global emissions should take place as soon as possible in order to make
a global reduction of 50% by 2050 compared to 1990. In
this spirit, the sides agreed that both the EU and Ukraine need to
increase their mitigation efforts and present mid-term emission
reduction targets for 2020. The EU and Ukraine will, under the
framework of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change
(UNFCCC) work together for a comprehensive and ambitious outcome at the
15th Conference of the Parties of the UNFCCC in December
2009 in Copenhagen. In this context, the leaders agreed that the issue
of unused emission units should be addressed in such a way that it
positively contributes to the outcome of the Copenhagen COP 15 meeting.
The leaders welcomed the continuous development of environmental
cooperation between the EU and Ukraine and the potential for further
initiatives. They noted the progress made in negotiations on the
establishment of the Regional Environmental Centre of Ukraine.
The leaders of the EU and Ukraine welcomed deepening cooperation on
the use of renewable energies and increased energy efficiency. The
Summit welcomed the launch of the Eastern Europe Energy Efficiency and
Environment Partnership, which took place in Stockholm on 26 November,
2009, where Ukraine, the European Commission, and EU and other
bilateral donors announced the creation of a support fund with an
initial volume of approximately ?90 million. This has the potential to
facilitate several billion Euro of investments by European and
international financial institutions in energy efficiency in Ukraine.
The leaders encouraged other donors and institutions to participate in
this partnership.
They welcomed the continuing progress in the implementation of the
priorities of the EU-Ukraine Memorandum of Understanding on cooperation
in the field of energy of 1 December 2005, as set out in the 4th
progress report presented to the Summit. While noting the good progress
in the roadmaps on nuclear safety, energy market integration and energy
transit, the leaders call for further progress in the coal sector and
in the promotion of energy efficiency and renewable energies.
The leaders of the EU and Ukraine stressed the importance of
Ukraine’s accession to the Energy Community Treaty (ECT) and in that
respect looked forward to the ECT Ministerial Council in Zagreb on
December 18, 2009. They also agreed on the importance of Ukraine's
implementation of the relevant energy sector reform commitments. They
underlined in particular the importance of security of energy
supplies. They expressed their determination to work closely to ensure
the security of energy supplies to the EU.
Taking into account that Ukraine is the single most important
transit country for gas supplies to the EU and that it is in the
strategic interest of all to ensure the efficiency, reliability and
transparency of gas supply routes to the EU: in their entirety, the
leaders stressed the importance of efforts to reform the energy sector.
In this regard, they welcomed the Joint Declaration endorsed by the
Joint EU-Ukraine International Investment Conference on the
Modernisation of the Gas Transit System which took place on 23 March
2009 and emphasised the urgency of implementing the commitments
contained in the Joint Declaration, as well as the wider reform
engagements of 31 July 2009 in the context of IFI support for Ukraine's
gas sector reform.
Ukraine-EU relations
The leaders of the EU and Ukraine welcomed the 3rd
progress report on negotiations on the EU-Ukraine Association
Agreement, noting the substantial further progress that has been
achieved in the course of the year. They recalled the forward-looking,
innovative and comprehensive nature of the Agreement. They confirmed
their strong commitment to complete negotiations as soon as possible,
bearing in mind the complex, ambitious and technically demanding
character of many aspects of the Agreement and notably the deep and
comprehensive free trade area part.
The leaders welcomed in this regard the recent launch of the
EU-Ukraine Association Agenda which will prepare for and facilitate the
entry into force of the EU-Ukraine Association Agreement. Based on
principles of joint ownership and joint responsibility, the Association
Agenda is a qualitatively new instrument which replaces the EU-Ukraine
Action Plan. Together with the Association Agreement, the Association
Agenda will facilitate greater political association and economic
integration with the EU.
The Parties re-confirmed increasing policy convergence, based on
shared values and commitments, in the field of foreign and security
policy. They highlighted in particular the value of continued close
cooperation on regional stability and crisis management, and noted the
importance of regular policy consultations and Ukraine's alignment with
EU foreign policy statements and common positions. The leaders agreed
on the aim to further increase Ukraine's participation in European
Security and Defence Policy operations and activities, recalling that
the Framework Participation Agreement has enhanced possibilities for
cooperation in this regard.
The leaders welcomed efforts of the European Union to help deter,
prevent and repress acts of piracy and armed robbery off the Somali
coast, particularly the EU NAVFOR Somalia – Operation Atalanta. In this
regard they welcomed the fact that Ukraine is considering a
contribution to international efforts in combating piracy through
taking part in the Operation Atalanta.
The Parties noted the continuing progress in the area of justice and
home affairs. They underlined the continuing importance of the revised
JLS Action Plan and the accompanying Scoreboard in promoting reforms
and strengthening common values, notably as regards respect for human
rights, democratisation and the rule of law, which are the cornerstone
of the EU-Ukraine relationship
The leaders of the EU and Ukraine welcomed the conclusion of the
Strategic Co-operation Agreement between Ukraine and Europol and an
agreement on a Memorandum of Understanding between the Ukrainian
Ministry of Health and the European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and
Drug Addiction.
The leaders agreed on the importance of promoting mobility between
the EU and Ukraine and welcomed the progress in implementation of the
Ukraine-EU visa facilitation and readmission agreements promoting
people-to-people contacts and assisting the Parties to combat illegal
migration. In this context the Parties also recognized the importance
of comprehensive migration policies and international standards on
protection and asylum.
The leaders underlined the importance of continued cooperation in
the full implementation of the EU-Ukraine visa facilitation and
readmission agreements and looked forward to constructive discussions
on the Visa Facilitation Agreement, in the competent Joint Committee in
spring 2010, in the light of Ukraine’s proposals for further
facilitations for Ukrainian citizens as well as developments in EU
legislation in the area of visa policy.
The EU and Ukraine leaders reviewed progress in the dialogue
launched in 2008 with the aim of developing relevant conditions to
establish as visa free regime as a long term perspective. They welcomed
the report of the Senior Officials of 19th November to the
Summit, noting progress made to-date, and endorsed the proposal to move
to a structured visa dialogue focused on sequenced priorities of action
and recommendations to the Ukrainian authorities.
The EU and Ukraine looked forward to a discussion on the visa
dialogue at the next EU-Ukraine Justice Freedom and Security
Ministerial meeting in the light of a progress report by Senior
Officials.
The leaders welcomed the implementation and functioning of the local
border traffic regime between Ukraine and Hungary, Poland and Slovakia,
and encouraged all parties to make best use of the local border traffic
regime in accordance with the EU acquis.
The leaders also welcomed progress achieved in the negotiations on
the EU-Ukraine Agreement on Common Aviation Area and encouraged the
negotiators to finalise the negotiations at technical level at the next
round as soon as possible.
Eastern Partnership
The leaders expressed their full commitment to the Eastern
Partnership which was launched on 7 May 2009 in Prague. In this regard
the leaders looked forward to the forthcoming meeting of Foreign
Ministers on 8 December in Brussels, and welcomed mutual efforts to
give the Eastern Partnership practical effect. They recalled that the
Eastern Partnership complements and contributes to existing bilateral
relations.
The leaders underlined their wish for the Eastern Partnership to
contribute to political association and economic integration. To this
end they agreed that the Eastern Partnership should provide for new
mechanisms of cooperation, inter alia within the Comprehensive
Institution Building programmes currently being developed in order to
meet this goal.
The leaders encouraged the European Commission to take an ambitious
approach to preparation of future projects within bilateral and
multilateral dimensions of the Eastern Partnership, giving due regard
to proposals of the Partner States.
Encouraged by the recently agreed Memorandum of Understanding for
the Establishment of a Dialogue on Regional Policy and Development of
Regional Cooperation, and by the EU’s Joint Initiative for Crimea, the
leaders welcomed closer practical cooperation between the EU and
Ukraine’s regions. They underlined the importance to model such
regional cooperation on the principles of EU cohesion policy as
foreseen by the Eastern Partnership. They also expressed hope that the
EU’s “Joint Cooperation Initiative in the Crimea” will provide
important contribution to sustainable regional development. The parties
expressed appreciation for the continuing positive cooperation with the
EU Border Assistance Mission (EUBAM) at the Ukrainian-Moldovan border
and for the extension of the mission’s mandate until 2011.
International issues
The leaders discussed relations with Russia and the issue of
European security, namely the Corfu Process. They expressed interest in
further coordination within the OSCE's Corfu Process on the basis of
shared positions, stressing their strong commitment to the OSCE and its
role as the main forum for the debate on Euro-Atlantic Security, based
on its comprehensive approach to security.
The leaders underlined the efforts of both sides to encourage closer
ties between the EU and Belarus and agreed on the need to support
democratic development in Belarus. They welcomed close practical
cooperation between Ukraine and Belarus in the context of the Eastern
Partnership.
The Parties stressed the need for continued efforts to resume
negotiations in the "5+2" format with an aim to reach a peaceful and
viable settlement of the Transnistria conflict in the Republic of
Moldova.
