Kuchma returns from EU summit, reporting progress in relations (07/14/02)

Kuchma returns from EU summit, reporting progress in relations

by Roman Woronowycz
Kyiv Press Bureau

KYIV - President Leonid Kuchma returned from Copenhagen on July 5, where he had attended the sixth European Union-Ukraine summit, satisfied that he had moved relations forward between the two sides and laid the groundwork for EU membership for the country.

The Ukrainian president did not receive market economy status, nor did he get any indication that Ukraine would soon become an associate member of the economic union. What he received, however, was the first clear signal from European leaders that they were willing to move forward in developing strategic relations with Ukraine.

"This was the first time that the development of further Ukraine-EU relations was placed on the agenda," said Mr. Kuchma, according to Interfax-Ukraine.

The final statement signed by the two sides also focused on increasing cooperation. The last sentence of that document reads: "In the end, taking into account the progress Ukraine has achieved on the path to democracy, the positive development of its economy and its keen pro-European choice, as well as the expansion of the EU, we will strive to develop a new and invigorated measure of our strategic partnership."

Ukraine avoided criticism for the first time in several years for the slow pace of economic reforms, its dubious press freedoms or other problems in its democratic development, and even received congratulations for showing progress in meeting the demands of the Council of Europe and Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe regarding the parliamentary elections held in March of this year.

Nonetheless, Ukraine again failed to obtain free market status, which Russia obtained last month. Without this status Kyiv cannot go forward in its effort to obtain membership in the World Trade Organization and increased trade with EU member-states will not be possible.

President Kuchma, however, maintained an optimistic note, explaining that the problems that led to lack of movement in the area will be overcome. He said the EU had agreed with Ukraine for the need to increase the practical aspect of work in Ukraine's priority areas: development of market status, accession to the WTO and eventual associate membership in the EU.

"We have agreed to intensify our work in outlining future cooperation in these areas," explained the president.

His economic aide, Anatolii Orel, was even more optimistic. He told journalists that market economy status is "merely a matter of time."

The Ukrainian president also went out of his way to inform the EU leadership that Ukraine's new relationship with the Moscow-oriented Eurasian Economic Community is strictly as an observer and that Ukraine has no obligations or commitments in that organization.

During his presentation, Mr. Kuchma underscored that relations between the EU and Ukraine have already outgrown the framework of the current Partnership and Cooperation Agreement and that a new instrument of interaction must be prepared.

The EU did not disagree and in its joint statement said the expansion of the EU "opens new possibilities" in various areas of cooperation. It openly acknowledged that a goal is for Ukraine to achieve status as a market economy so that more open trade between the two will result. And, for the first time, the organization acknowledged that Ukraine could even achieve a simplified border control regime with the EU.

Besides the joint statement, the leaders of the EU-Ukraine summit - President Kuchma, EU Council Secretary Javier Solana, European Commission President Romano Prodi and EU Council of Ministers Chairman Andres Fogh Rasmussen (who assumed control of the revolving chairmanship as prime minister of Denmark) - signed an agreement on cooperation in the realm of science and technology. The document envisages mutual exchanges of scientists, joint implementation of projects, and joint seminars and conferences.

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