MEPs ratify ‘historic’ EU deal with Ukraine

The European Parliament ratified the European Union's association agreement with Ukraine in Strasbourg yesterday, as 2,000km to the east the Ukrainian parliament simultaneously passed a law giving "special status" to two regions in eastern Ukraine under the terms of the ceasefire agreement.

The final ratification of the association agreement, which originally sparked the current conflict last November when former president Viktor Yanukovych withdrew from the pact, was highly symbolic, as images of the Ukrainian parliament were beamed live into the plenary chamber in Strasbourg by video link.

"This is a historic moment," European Parliament president Martin Schulz told MEPs. "The European Parliament has always defended the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Ukraine and will continue to do so."

However, under a compromise reached during trilateral talks between Ukraine, the EU and Russia last week, the implementation of the free- trade agreement has been postponed until the end of next year.

‘Important step’

MEPs yesterday backed the agreement, with 535 votes in favour, 127 against and 35 abstentions. In a joint statement,

European Council

president

Herman Van Rompuy

and

European Commission

head José Manuel Barroso said the agreement was “an important step in Ukraine’s political association and economic integration” with the EU and would “provide a blueprint for Ukraine’s transformation into a modern and prosperous European democracy”.

Ukraine’s president, Petro Poroshenko, hailed the agreement as a step towards EU membership, urging his government to implement the reforms required by the pact. Through the agreement, Ukraine had “embarked on the European path”, he said, adding that “nobody will dare to shut the door to the EU membership for Ukraine”.

While an association agreement is traditionally a key stage in the path towards EU membership, the EU has stopped well short of offering Ukraine the prospect of EU accession.

The agreement sets targets for implementing a visa-free regime between the two entities and lays down a timetable for Ukraine to transpose EU law into national law.

Limitations

While it lifts import duties and trade restrictions, there are specific limitations in “sensitive” areas such as agriculture. The decision to postpone the implementation of the agreement was also strongly criticised by the Green group in the European Parliament, which described the move as a “political disgrace”.

In contrast, Knut Fleckenstein, a Socialists and Democrats MEP, said the decision to postpone the implementation was " a concession for the sake of peace in Ukraine; a decision taken in the framework of a comprehensive peace process".

MPs in Kiev, meanwhile, agreed to grant a limited form of self-rule to the Donetsk and Luhansk regions in eastern Ukraine, where most of the separatist fighting has been taking place.

Under the “special status” Bill passed by the parliament yesterday, local elections will be held on December 5th, while Russian has been given enhanced status as a second language.