European Parliament to Urge EU to Finalize Association Agreement With Ukraine

Speaking of economic and sectorial cooperation, the draft stipulates strengthening collaboration between Ukraine and the EU in the area of energy, specifically signing an agreement on securing energy supplies, provisioning reliability and diversification of gas and oil transit system.

Speaking of economic and sectorial cooperation, the draft stipulates strengthening collaboration between Ukraine and the EU in the area of energy, specifically signing an agreement on securing energy supplies, provisioning reliability and diversification of gas and oil transit system.

In the section on justice, liberty, and security, the report-to-be recommends to set specific time frame for establishing a visa-free regime for Ukraine, instead of the currently existing long-term perspective based on Ukraine's ability to meet the required technical criteria, provided for by the visa liberation Action Plan. It is also suggested that the time when Ukraine will host the UERO 2012 football championship could serve as a tryout period for a visa-free regime.  

The future report states that the Association Agreement provides for an unprecedented level of integration of a third country with the EU. The draft reinforces the Article #49 of the Treaty on European Union, which provides for Ukraine's right to apply for the membership in the EU, under conditions of observing the principles of democracy, respecting human rights and basic freedoms, and the rule of law.

The ongoing trial of the former Ukrainian Prime Minister Yuliia Tymoshenko over gas contracts with Russia raised some concerns about the Association Agreement being signed in the nearest future. Members of the Committee on International Trade INTA of the European Parliament, however, agreed that the Association Agreement with Ukraine would not be affected by the lawsuit against Tymoshenko.