10/08/2003 | peter byrne

Internet: http://ue.eu.int/
E-mail: press.office@consilium.eu.int
13091/03 (Presse 286) 1
EN
Yalta, 7 October 2003
13091/03 (Presse 286)
UKRAINE-EUROPEAN UNION SUMMIT
(Yalta, 7 October, 2003)
Joint Statement
by L. Kuchma, President of Ukraine and S. Berlusconi, President of the European Council,
assisted by J. Solana, Secretary-General of the Council / High Representative
for EU Common Foreign and Security Policy,
and R. Prodi, President of the Commission of the European Communities*
Our Summit took place against the background of the conclusion of a new wave of European Union
enlargement. Sharing common goals and values we emphasised that becoming direct neighbours
will offer us new opportunities and responsibilities for assuring peace, stability and prosperity in an
indivisible Europe.
Ukraine reiterated its long-term strategic goal to be fully integrated into the EU. The European
Union acknowledged Ukraine’s European aspirations and welcomed Ukraine’s European choice.
We noted with satisfaction Ukraine’s participation as a full member in the European Conference in
Athens in April 2003. Bearing in mind our strong determination to avoid drawing new dividing
lines in Europe, we reconfirmed our commitment declared in Athens to promote policies of further
political and economic rapprochement and gradual integration of the social and economic structures
between the enlarged Union and Ukraine.
* The Summit was attended also by Mr Hryshchenko, Foreign Minister of Ukraine, Mr Frattini,
Foreign Minister of Italy, Mr Patten, Commissioner for External Relations.
13091/03 (Presse 286) 2
EN
We discussed the EU's "Wider Europe - Neighbourhood" initiative and agreed that its broad range
of new opportunities and relevant instruments should facilitate Ukraine's progressive participation
in the EU’s internal market and in EU policies and programmes, taking into account Ukraine’s
strategic goals and priorities. Ukraine noted the EU position that this initiative should be seen as
separate from the question of possible EU accession that is regulated by article 49 of the Treaty on
European Union.
We welcomed the significant EU assistance to Ukraine over the past years and discussed programs
and prospects until and after 2006. The EU will reflect in close consultation with Ukraine on
possible new modalities of assistance to Ukraine. We welcomed the planned setting up of
Neighborhood Programs, as suggested by the European Commission. Ukraine suggested that new
instruments and forms of assistance after 2006 would usefully reflect the experience of the
enlargement process, including elements of co-financing and national administration of EU
assistance in Ukraine.
We expressed satisfaction that good use has so far been made of the PCA and stressed our joint
commitment towards its further implementation. The joint report on PCA implementation noted
substantial progress towards the objectives of the PCA. At the same time the need for further
intensified efforts in certain sectors under the PCA was underlined.
We noted the creation of the State Council on European and Euroatlantic Integration of Ukraine and
welcomed Ukraine’s aspiration to reinforce its institutional capacity.
We reiterated that strengthening and ensuring the stability of institutions guaranteeing democracy,
the rule of law and respect for human rights is of vital importance for Ukraine's development and
for an intensified relationship with the EU. We noted the importance of a continued commitment
from the Ukrainian authorities to reform further the judiciary and to strengthening administrative
capacity, to fostering the development of civil society, and to supporting the freedom of the media.
We agreed that co-operation and EU assistance in these areas should be intensified
We acknowledged progress made by Ukraine in implementing economic reforms. We noted with
satisfaction the steady growth of the Ukrainian economy, and welcomed national currency stability,
and low inflation rates in Ukraine. We stressed the importance of tax reform and reiterated the need
for continued efforts on the clearance of arrears on VAT refunds, as well as on completion of
banking sector reform and reinforcing the independence of the National Bank of Ukraine.
Acknowledging the importance of creating a positive investment climate in Ukraine, we are
confident that decisive progress towards removing discrimination in the automobile sector can be
achieved soon. We encouraged the Ukrainian government to ensure non-discriminatory treatment of
foreign investors and agreed to continue our efforts to remove remaining trade restrictions that are
in contradiction with the provisions of the PCA.
We agreed that developing fully the potential of our partnership will contribute to the progress in
political and economic reforms in Ukraine which remains a priority for the Ukrainian government.
13091/03 (Presse 286) 3
EN
We welcomed EU enlargement process and agreed that maintenance of traditionally close ties
between Ukraine and the new EU Member States is vital for regional stability and will facilitate
Ukraine’s further integration with the EU. We noted the importance of continued discussions on the
impact of EU enlargement on our relations at all levels within PCA bodies. We look forward to the
extension of the EU-Ukraine PCA to the new EU member states.
Ukraine informed the EU about the recently signed agreement on the establishment of a single
economic space between Ukraine, Russia, Belarus and Kazakhstan.
We agreed that one of the most effective ways to use the opportunities of the current EU
enlargement is for Ukraine to intensify its work in aligning its legislation, norms and standards with
those of the European Union. The EU reiterated its readiness to continue co-operation and support
for Ukraine with regard to legislative approximation. Ukraine's National Programme for Adaptation
of the Ukrainian Legislation to that of the EU and our joint work on the development of a legislative
approximation scoreboard for priority areas should provide a good basis for further progress on this
important task. The EU took note of Ukraine suggestions as regards the future process of legislative
approximation.
We noted with satisfaction the increase in EU-Ukraine bilateral trade and welcomed the successful
conclusion of our bilateral market access protocol under Ukraine’s accession to the WTO. The EU
reiterated its support to Ukraine’s accession to the WTO, and its readiness to work with Ukraine to
facilitate the WTO Working Party report drafting as an important stage in the WTO accession
process.
We stressed the importance of co-operation on the integration of infrastructure networks between
Ukraine and the EU in the context of EU enlargement. We noted the particular importance of
energy and transport networks in this regard, including their links with the Pan-European transport
corridors and the Trans-European Transport Network, and discussed opportunities for intensified
co-operation in the context of the "Wider Europe" concept. Against this background, Ukraine
reiterated its strong desire for an extension of the European Investment Bank mandate to Ukraine,
particularly in areas of energy, transport, environment and cross-border cooperation.
We discussed issues of common interest in the transport sector, in particular safety and security
issues and the technical and legal interoperability of our transport systems. We stressed the
importance of EU-Ukraine co-operation on the Galileo satellite navigation system. We noted with
satisfaction the adoption of a Ukraine-EU joint declaration on co-operation in Satellite Navigation –
Galileo, and call on private companies and scientists to intensify co-operation in this field. We
welcomed the establishment under the relevant PCA structure of a Ukraine- EU working group on
space research and peaceful use of outer space.
We stressed the importance of further energy sector reform in Ukraine. We will continue our
cooperation in the field of gas sector reform and gas transit through Ukraine, noting its significant
role for the EU’s security of supply. We encouraged continuation of the work of the joint expert
working group on gas transit, including implementation of relevant projects within the framework
of the EU's INOGATE Programme. We also underlined the importance of the development of the
Euro-Asian oil transport corridor, especially the finalisation of the Odesa - Brody - Plock oil
pipeline. In this regard we welcomed the signing of a Joint Declaration by representatives of the
governments of Poland and Ukraine and the European Commission on the support of this corridor.
13091/03 (Presse 286) 4
EN
We reaffirmed our commitment to continue our co-operation in overcoming the consequences of
the Chernobyl accident, in particular as regards issues of nuclear safety, energy capacity and energy
sector reform, as well as the social consequences. The Ukrainian side reiterated its commitment that
the new reactors in Rivne and Khmelnytsky, "K2/R4" will be completed according to the
internationally accepted safety standards.
The EU and Ukraine have a shared responsibility to protect the environment. We took note of the
success of the Kyiv 2003 Pan-European Environment Ministers Conference and welcomed the
establishment of a New Environmental Partnership. We look forward to close cooperation on the
implementation of the Kyoto Protocol. We agreed to further develop our co-operation in the field of
environmental issues in the Black Sea region.
We welcomed the signing of an agreement renewing the Agreement on Co-operation in Science and
Technology between the European Community and Ukraine and the establishment of a relevant
Joint Ukraine-EU Committee, which regularly reports to the PCA Sub-Committee. We noted that a
specific Action Plan for dialogue on co-operation in Science and Technology will be developed in
this framework.
We stressed the importance of EU-Ukraine co-operation in the area of Justice and Home Affairs
and expressed our satisfaction with the progress on the implementation of the EU Action Plan on
Ukraine in this field. We agreed to strengthen our joint co-operation to address issues of
readmission and migration, border management, combating organised crime, including trafficking
in human beings, sexual exploitation and child pornography, money laundering, terrorism, drugs
and corruption. We encourage co-operation between judicial authorities of Ukraine and Eurojust,
and look forward to eventual co-operation between Ukrainian law enforcement agencies and
Europol.
We had an exchange on the global security situation and in particular the emergence of new security
threats such as terrorism, the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, state failure and
organised crime. We agreed on the importance of building effective partnerships to address these
challenges. In this context, the EU outlined its work in preparing an EU Security Strategy to be
adopted by the European Council in December. We are firmly committed to strengthening the
international system of non-proliferation and will work together in tackling this global challenge.
The EU expressed its appreciation for Ukraine's participation in the EU Police Mission in Bosnia
and Herzegovina. We will continue our consultations with a view to conclude an Agreement on the
using Ukrainian capabilities by the EU in the field of long haul aviation.
We welcomed the efforts towards finding a peaceful settlement of the Transnistria conflict, fully
respecting the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Republic of Moldova, and urged both
parties to resume full commitment to this process. We pledged our intention to further increase our
efforts to assist this process under the aegis of the OSCE. We underlined the importance of
fulfilment of the Istanbul and Porto commitments. We welcomed the enhanced customs cooperation
between Ukraine and Moldova as well as the Ukrainian efforts aimed at strengthening security and
control on Ukraine-Moldova border and looked forward to further progress. Sharing the basic
principles for a settlement we confirmed our readiness to contribute jointly to accelerating the
settlement arrangements.
Security remains a major priority in Iraq and the parties stressed the importance of the discussions
in this regard currently under way in the UNSC on a new UNSCR. Both sides stressed that the UN
should play a vital role.
We expressed our deep concern about the resurgency of violence in Israel and the Palestinian
Territories. We urge all parties to take immediate action to break the cycle of violence. We
reaffirmed once again that there is no alternative to a swift and full implementation, in good faith by
the two sides, of the Quartet road map.