2008 EU–Ukraine Summit

In a 10 paragraph text, the EU acknowledges:

1. Ukraine's progress in implementing democratic reforms as evidenced in the parliamentary elections of September 2007 was successful.
2. Ukraine's progress in economic reforms, rewarded by its accession to the World Trade Organization in early 2008.
3. the substantial progress in negotiating the new enhanced agreement since its beginning in March 2007 under the German Presidency of the Council of the EU.
4. that Ukraine, as a European country, shares a common history and common values, with the countries of the European Union.
5. that the new enhanced agreement should be an Association agreement which leaves open the way for further progressive developments in EU-Ukraine relations.
6. Ukraine's European aspirations and welcomes its European choice.
7. that gradual convergence of Ukraine with the EU in political, economic and legal areas will contribute to further progress in bilateral relations.
8. that the Association agreement will renew the common institutional framework, facilitate the deepening of relations in all areas, strengthen political association and economic integration between the EU and Ukraine by means of reciprocal rights and obligations.
9. that the Association agreement will provide a solid basis for further convergence between the EU and Ukraine on foreign policy and security issues, including promoting respect for the principles of independence, sovereignty, territorial integrity and inviolability of borders.
10. that the establishment of a deep and comprehensive free trade area with large-scale regulatory approximation of Ukraine to EU standards, will contribute to the gradual integration of Ukraine into the EU internal market.
11. that the current EU-Ukraine Action Plan is to be replaced by a new practical instrument by March 2009 with a view to preparing the implementation of the Association agreement.
12. that a visa dialogue with the long-time perspective of establishing a visa free regime should be launched; relevant conditions should be developed.

The document's title is "deepening EU-Ukraine cooperation" In the first chapter, the necessity to replace the Action plan by a new mechanism is underlined.

In the second chapter - Foreign and Security Policy - it was agreed on a further convergence in positions in regional and international issues within the existing framework of political consultations, Ukraine's alignments with the EU statements and positions, as well as Ukraine's participation in the EU's efforts on crisis management.

The EU welcomed the establishment and encouraged further development of regular dialogue between military bodies, namely the EU Military Committee and the General Headquarters of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. Also, it was stated that Ukraine and the European Defense Agency will establish close contacts to discuss military capability issues.

The third chapter - Cooperation in Energy sphere - underlines that the energy security needs of the EU and Ukraine are intrinsically linked. It says that the EU welcomed the imminent start of negotiations regarding the accession of Ukraine to the Energy Community treaty and the preparatory studies concerning the synchronous interconnection of the Ukrainian electricity networks with that of the Union for the Coordination of the Transmission of Energy.

In the fourth chapter - Justice, Liberty and Security - the implementation of agreements on facilitation on the issuance of visas and readmission was discussed. Also, the issues of local border traffic, joint border controls at the border crossing points on common borders were mentioned. Then, as far as visa free travel is concerned, the document points that the dialogue on the level of experts is expected to be launched before the end of 2008. The negotiation should be focused on some specific issues: document security, illegal migration, readmission, public order and security, external relations.

The fifth chapter - the Environment - shows that Ukraine has reconfirmed its commitments under Espoo, Aarus and other relevant multilateral environmental agreements.

The sixth chapter - Trade, Economy and Transport - covers Ukraine's future accession to the Charter for small enterprises. In the field of civil aviation, it welcomes the launch of Common Aviation Area negotiations which are expected to be concluded by the end of 2008. In this context adopting of a new Ukraine's Air Code is said to be compulsory. Also some other issues related to land transport infrastructure were mentioned.

In further two chapters - EURO2012 and Transnistria - the EU and Ukraine made some general statements, in particular concerning Border Assistance Mission at the Ukrainian-Moldovan border. The EU expressed the will to come back to the 5+2 format of negotiation on the Transnistria.

In a special declaration on Georgia, the EU and Ukraine expressed their concern over the armed conflict between Russia and Georgia. The text is a partial copy of the 1 September 2008 European Council extraordinary meeting. The EU and Ukraine confirmed the right of every nation to choose freely its foreign policy orientations and joining alliances. Besides backing the Six-points ceasefire and troop withdrawal plan, the EU and Ukraine called for a reinforced cooperation in the region and stressed that the conflict settlement should be achieved with the respect of territorial integrity of Georgia.

On the visa free talks between the EU and Ukraine:

There won't be any road map for Ukraine [in this matter]. Such terms as "road map" apply to some other [partner] countries. We'd rather call it "conditions"... We succeeded in inserting [into the text] the word "conditions" [for a visa free travel]. A. Veselovsky, Ukrainian ambassador to the EU in an interview to UNIAN. [Balkan States are on a path of a visa free travel and they all got from the EU a set of specific conditions called a road map]

On the nature of the Association agreement: The Association agreement between the EU and Ukraine "neither closes any roads, nor opens them". (N. Sarkozy)

On the community of values and common history: "We have a common history and we share common values" (N. Sarkozy)

On the exceptional relationship: "We will build up our Eastern partnership in the region where Ukraine will be granted an exceptional relationship" (N. Sarkozy)

On the personal role of the president-in-office: "I speak in the name of the EU, in the name of unity. I was not allowed by the Union to make any other declarations" (N. Sarkozy on the "European perspective" issue)

On the cooperation on the preparations for 2012 European football championship: According to the final communiqué of the summit, Ukraine and the EU agreed to cooperate "within the framework of existing cooperation mechanisms" on the issue of EURO 2012. (UNIAN, EU news, 1.09.2008)

On the necessity of setting up of common border checkpoints: "The leaders call Ukraine and neighbouring Member States to consider the possibility of establishing of a common border control and setting up of common border checkpoints. This could improve and facilitate transborder traffic and commerce, respecting security standards and environmental legislation". (UNIAN, EU news, 1 September 2008)

On the Transnistria issue: "The sides voiced their mutual interest in resuming of talks in the format 5+2 in order to accelerate the conflict resolution" (UNIAN, EU news, 1 September 2008)