The European Integration Committee held the Hearings "Prospects of Ukraine-EU Cooperation after the 14th EU-Ukraine Summit (Brussels, November 22, 2010)
16 December 2010, 14:42
Opening the hearings, Borys Tarasiuk, Chairman of the
Committee, declared that the dynamics of the relations between the Parties and
agreements reached during the 14th summit in Brussels on November,
22 proved that the Agreements on Association between Ukraine and the EU shall
be completed and signed, thus the relations would be transformed into the
format of a political association and economic integration.
The participants of the hearings emphasized that the Agreement on Association was considered as a mid-term guide for the EU-Ukrainian relations. Namely, if Ukraine perceives its membership in the EU as its strategic guide, then the document forms a mid-term perspective and should contain the provisions on the European prospects of Ukraine. On the parliamentary level, as B. Tarasiuk stressed, the European ambitions are already incorporated in the resolutions of the European Parliament of 25 February and 25 November 2010, and in the bilateral documents adopted by the Committee on the Parliamentary Liaison between Ukraine and the EU.
Before signing the Agreement on Association, Ukraine and the EU started to prepare for its implementation and cooperation within the Agenda of Ukraine-EU Association. On December 15, 2010, the Joint Committee reported to the Council on the progress in the implementation of the Agenda. Thus, the following achievements were mentioned: conduct of the presidential elections in 2010, cooperation in European Security and Defense Policy (ESDP) and adoption of the Law on Governmental Purchase according to the international standards. Ukraine made a step forward in legislative support of personal data protection, which is also among the priorities of the Agenda.
The participants of the sitting emphasized
that a forgotten challenge connected with the democratic rights and liberties
re-emerged in 2010. It raises serious
concerns regarding implementation of the political priorities of the Agenda,
namely, strengthening of the institutions that support democratic principles
and supremacy of Law, implementation of the constitutional reform, independent
judicial system, observance of human rights and fundamental freedoms, fighting
against corruption etc.
The participants of the hearings consider harmonization of the provisions concerning the free trade zone to be the most complicated part of the negotiations on the Association Agreement. Opening its domestic market, Ukraine is willing to see similar steps on the part of the EU to be a full-fledged partner, not a market outlet. It concerns the tools of trade protection, further liberalization of goods and services within the tariff lines for the agricultural goods, use of export subsidies by the European Union, and protection of geographical denominations.
The reporters attach great importance to the presentation of the Action Plan towards visa liberalisation for Ukraine at the 14th EU-Ukraine Summit. The Action Plan sets out all technical conditions to be met by Ukraine in order to progress towards the establishment of a visa free regime as a long term perspective for short stay travel for Ukrainian citizens. Its implementation will start now and will be systematically monitored by both sides.
B.Tarasiuk informed that the 5th Meeting of the Committee on Parliamentary Liaison between Ukraine and the European Union had been held in Kyiv on 4-5 November 2010. The Committee members ratified the Joint Report of the Working Group on the visa regime between Ukraine and the EU.
The Report states that Ukraine should
take action to upgrade and enhance border infrastructure in line with the
domestic security and public order of the EU member states, introduction of
foreign passports with biometric data adjusted to the European systems of electronic
data reading, unification of the procedure of issue of diplomatic and special
passports with the European standards, establishment of a single migration body
and adoption of required legislative acts. The Report focuses on the cases of
non-implementation of the Agreement on visa liberalization by the consular
offices of particular EU member states. In the relations with the European
Union, Ukraine gives priority to the protection of the right of the Ukrainian citizens
for the freedom of movement.
The Committee on Parliamentary Liaison between Ukraine and the European Union believes that the Report, its conclusions and recommendations should be discussed at the plenary meetings of the European Parliament and the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine. The European Integration Committee has already drafted a resolution of The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, and expects that it will be adopted.