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07-02-2005 00:03 Maidan-INFORM
France Fears Putin, Obstructs Ukraine's Association with European Union

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Poland, Germany, and France, with Lithuanian participation, are conducting intensive discussions, having received something more than cooperation within the framework of neighbourhood policy from the European Union.

As reported by ProEuropa, based upon the Polish Gazeta.Pl., "the virtually completed text of the Polish-German-Lithuanian proposal for Ukraine has met opposition from France. Paris prefers that relations with Yushchenko be contained within 'the borders of the European Union politics of neighbourhood policy and the so-called plan of action,' developed during Viktor Yanukovych's office."

Berlin has said that without the French, it will not go for any of the much-promised declarations, although minister Joschka Fischer and Włodimierz Cimoszewicz had already signed a document last October stating that relations with Ukraine should proceed according to the foreseeable plan of action.

"Very intensive discussions are in progress, and the parties are showing great readiness to compromise," stated the Polish publication's French source in Brussels. Polish diplomats did not exclude that a compromise may be reached, one which may not completely adhere to the ambitious Polish plans for bringing Ukraine closer to the European Union.

In the document prepared by Poland, Germany, and Lithuania before the January 31, 2005 meeting of ministers of foreign affairs of the European Union, special emphasis is made on giving the new government in Kyiv considerable aid in expertise for carrying out reforms and on providing more financial aid than had been previously planned (the proposed political plan of neighbourhood policy estimated approximately 300 million euros per year).

The document contains plans to recognize Ukraine as a market economy and aid its entry into the World Trade Organization as soon as possible, to swiftly begin negotiations – to Kyiv’s benefit - regarding asymmetric understanding about a free trade zone, to establish a strategic European Union-Ukraine partnership, and to cooperate on the realization of transportation and energy projects (Odessa-Brody oil pipeline).

At the same time, the document gives no indication regarding the possibility of Ukrainian EU membership - which was a German condition.

The French took issue with the statement that because the Ukrainian "plan of action" was made under different, earlier political conditions, it would be worthwhile to discuss Ukrainian reforms beyond the parameters of the document.

France is afraid that Ukraine's association with the European Union will negatively influence the results of the European constitutional referendum. Their main reservation is how Russia will react, affected as it is by the defeat of its policies towards Ukraine.

Likewise, the French do not want to distinguish Ukraine from Morocco or Palestinian autonomy, also covered by European Union neighbourhood policies.

Ukrainska Pravda January 22, 2005

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