UKRAINE/EU: The European Union's top foreign policy officials have drawn up a plan for closer economic and political links with Ukraine but drew back from proposing moves towards EU membership for the former Soviet republic.
Reuters reported yesterday that the EU Foreign Policy Chief, Mr Javier Solana, and the External Relations Commissioner, Ms Benita Ferrero-Waldner, have sent the 25 EU governments a 10-point plan for European action to support Ukraine's reform process.
The proposals include talks on trade deals for steel and textiles this year, with a view to creating a free trade area between Ukraine and the EU if Kiev joins the World Trade Organisation (WTO). Ukraine could get up to half of a €500 million loan package earmarked by the European Investment Bank (EIB) for Russia, Ukraine, Belarus and Moldova, as well as extra financial aid for transport infrastructure projects.
The plan also calls for closer co-operation with Ukraine on foreign policy and security issues and for a new visa regime for Ukrainians travelling to the EU.
The news agency quotes a draft letter from Mr Solana and Ms Ferrero-Waldner, calling on EU member-states to make good on their promise of support to Ukraine's incoming president, Mr Viktor Yushchenko.
"The strategic choice of Ukraine, in favour of democracy and reform, has been welcomed by the European Union. Now we must find the right actions to support this choice in concrete terms," the draft said.
Ms Ferrero-Waldner told the Federal Academy for Security Policy in Berlin last night that Ukraine should be given an "avant-garde" position within the EU's Neighbourhood Policy, a framework for closer relations with neighbouring countries that does not hold out the prospect of EU membership.- Reuters