Ukraine - Achievements
The European Commission’s Progress Report Ukraine notes that good progress has been achieved in most areas. Negotiations on an ambitious EU-Ukraine New Enhanced Agreement (NEA) started in March 2007 and are proceeding well. In February 2008, negotiations were also launched on a deep and comprehensive Free Trade Area as a core element of the NEA.
Early parliamentary elections in September 2007 confirmed Ukraine’s democratic vocation. In the area of human rights, the freedom of the media has been further consolidated.
Visa facilitation and readmission agreements entered into force in January 2008. They are a major contribution to people-to-people contacts and in the fight against illegal migration.
Negotiations on a Common Aviation Area were launched in January 2008.
Ukraine plays a leading role in the Black Sea Synergy regional cooperation launched in spring 2007. A successful ministerial conference was held in Kyiv in February 2008.
The EU and Ukraine co-operate closely on energy issues. The establishment of the Gas Metrology Centre in Boyarka, a major achievement in this context, is a result of joint efforts of the EU and Ukraine in order to ensure transparency and reliability of gas supplies.
In recognition of good progress made in reforms in 2006 Ukraine was awarded additional EU financial support under the Governance Facility (€22 million).
Joint work in the context of EU Border Assistance Mission to Moldova and Ukraine (EUBAM) contributes to the settlement of the Transnistria conflict. It also aims at tackling issues such as smuggling and illegal trafficking, including of human beings.
However, it has to be noted that the pace of economic and structural reforms stalled somewhat compared to previous years, due to the political instability which characterised most of 2007.
