EU Keeps Ukraine at Arm's Length

KIEV, Ukraine -- An EU troika of foreign affairs heavyweights met their Ukrainian counterparts in Kiev on Wednesday to discuss the stepping up of EU-Ukraine relations in the post-Yushchenko era and Ukraine's role in the long-standing Transnistria conflict.

External relations commissioner Benita Ferrero-Waldner, Luxembourg Foreign Minister Jean Asselborn and the EU's foreign policy chief, Javier Solana, assured Ukraine Foreign Minister Boris Tarasyukin that the EU wants "to keep the momentum going" on the EU-Ukraine action plan.

The new Ukraine government, which took charge following the 'velvet revolution' in January, is not shy about its ambitions to join the EU.



Ukrainian President Viktor Yushchenko has repeatedly said "for us, it is very important that Ukraine once again confirm its final goal - full membership in the European Union".

While the EU welcomed the change in power and Yushchenko's ambitious reforms, it has stopped short of proposing accession talks.

The EU flirted back with its EU-Ukraine Action Plan, a blue print for internal reforms aimed at achieving European standards, and preparing the county for WTO accession - a precondition for a future EU-Ukraine joint free-trade area.

The EU is also accelerating the signing of agreements to provide access to EU markets for Ukraine’s steel and textiles exports (which amount to 30% of Ukraine’s exports to the EU), with an EU-Ukraine textile agreement having been adopted by the Council this week.

The Plan, which upgrades an existing cooperation and partnership agreement signed in 1998, is a part of the EU Neighbourhood policy, which aims to create "a ring of friends" around the Union.

The EU is also the biggest donor in Ukraine, having contributed with over one billion euro to Kiev's coffers in the period of 1998-2004, and has committed itself to increasing its assistance in the next budget period.

During the meeting, the issue of the long-standing Transnistria conflict in neighbouring Moldova was discussed with the European Commission calling for stricter border management between Ukraine and Moldova, a key element to the settlement of the conflict.

"Finding a peaceful solution is in the interests of Moldova, Ukraine and the EU," said Ferrero-Waldner on Tuesday (29 March).

The Commission is set to open an EU Delegation in Moldova this year.