EU/Ukraine Summit,
Yalta, 7 October, Brussels, 6
October 2003
The
European Union and Ukraine will hold their annual Summit on 7 October 2003 in
Yalta. The Summit
will be hosted by President Leonid Kuchma. Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, in
his capacity as President of the European Council, will head the EU delegation,
accompanied by Mr Franco Frattini, Minister for Foreign Affairs. The Commission
will be represented by President Romano Prodi and the Commissioner for External
Relations, Chris Patten. The High Representative for Common Foreign and
Security Policy, Javier Solana, will complete the Troika. The EU's main
objective for this summit will be to find a common understanding with Ukraine
that the Wider Europe/New Neighbours initiative offers an ambitious and
realistic framework for strengthening the bilateral strategic partnership and
for allowing Ukraine to benefit fully from EU enlargement. The EU will also
encourage Ukraine
to make significant progress regarding its political, economic and
institutional reforms.
The Wider Europe
initiative sets out an ambitious vision for upgrading political and economic
relations with the neighbours of the enlarged EU based on shared values such as
the rule of law, democratic principles, including media freedom, and free
market economy. At the Summit, the EU side will
offer further details of the Wider Europe concept, stressing that this initiative
is in itself a very positive political signal for Ukraine, and that it offers
considerable new opportunities for strengthening its bilateral relationship
with the EU, leaving aside for the time being a possible membership
perspective, which is not on the agenda.
In this context, the
EU will underline that the question of a possible future association with the
EU or EU membership must not be allowed to prevent Ukraine from effectively tackling
the real substance of reform needs and improving bilateral co-operation,
addressing remaining trade irritants and shortcomings as regards investment
conditions. The EU will invite Ukraine
to co-operate closely on the implementation of the Wider Europe policy,
including through close consultations on the elaboration of an Action Plan,
with a view to the progressive integration of Ukraine into the EU's internal
market.
The EU will emphasise
that next year's Presidential elections in Ukraine will be an excellent
opportunity to demonstrate that remaining shortcomings in the areas of media
freedom and conduct of elections are being effectively addressed in a positive
and tangible manner.
EU enlargement,
including its impact on EU-Ukraine relations will be an important topic for
discussion. The extension of the PCA to the acceding member states, which will
consolidate the strategic relationship, will also be raised.
As regards nuclear
safety, the EU will express its regret about the Ukrainian decision to abandon
the international project for the completion of the two reactor units K2R4 and
will express the strong desire that the envisaged alternative option guarantees
the highest safety level in line with the Memorandum of Understanding signed by
Ukraine, the G7 countries and the European Commission on the Chernobyl closure.
The EU will reaffirm its commitment to co-operate with and assist Ukraine on
nuclear safety issues.
The Summit
will also discuss international issues, including the Transnistria issue in Moldova, an issue on which the EU and Ukraine intend
to step up their efforts towards bringing the parties together, including on
customs. Iraq, Middle East and the Non Proliferation of Weapons of Mass
Destruction will also be discussed.
Other issues include
continued and intensified efforts and co-operation in the field of justice and
home affairs, including a readmission agreement, in the interest of both sides.
In addition, an Agreement on renewal of the EU-Ukraine Science & Technology
Agreement will be signed. On energy transit, the EU will reiterate its full support
to the strategically important Odessa-Brodi oil pipeline, which was expected to
handle oil supplies from the Caucasus and Middle East to Central
Europe. Finally, the EU will welcome significant progress by Ukraine in its
transition towards a Market Economy, stressing the technical character of the
Commission assessment currently underway, based on clear and objective
criteria.