Ukraine

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27/01/2012 - 3143rd GENERAL AFFAIRS Council meeting - Brussels, 27 January 2012
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19/12/2011 - Ukraine-EU Summit Joint Statement

St Michael's church, Kiev

The EU is seeking an increasingly close relationship with Ukraine, going beyond mere bilateral co-operation, to gradual economic integration and a deepening of political co-operation.

Ukraine is a priority partner country within the European Neighbourhood Policy (ENP). The Partnership and Co-operation Agreement (PCA) which entered into force in 1998 and provides a comprehensive and ambitious framework for cooperation between the EU and Ukraine, in all key areas of reform.

At the Paris Summit in September 2008 an agreement was reached to start negotiations on an EU-Ukraine Association Agreement, which is to be the successor agreement to the PCA. Several negotiating Rounds have since been organised, alternately in Brussels and Kiev (see: '4th Joint Progress Report on Negotiations on the Association Agreement pdf - 23 KB [23 KB] ).

In November 2009, the Cooperation Council adopted the EU-Ukraine Association Agenda pdf - 112 KB [112 KB] . This Agenda replaces the former Action Plan , and will prepare for and facilitate the entry into force of the new Agreement. For 2011/12, a list of 90 priorities for action pdf - 51 KB [51 KB] was jointly agreed by Ukraine and the EU.

The Association Agreement will significantly deepen Ukraine’s political association and economic integration with the EU. As Ukraine became a member of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) in May 2008, negotiations on the establishment of a Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area (DCFTA) could be launched, as an integral part of the Association Agreement. Negotiations for this DCFTA will continue in 2010/2011.