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| Ukraine President Viktor Yushchenko. US
President George W. Bush said the nation should be welcomed into the
'Euro-Atlantic family' after the ex-Soviet republic's recent election
crisis. (Photo: Yahoo/AFP) |
ĦĦBRUSSELS, Feb. 21 (Xinhuanet) -- The European Union (EU) and Ukraine at their
special Co-operation Council on Monday agreed to strengthen bilateral relations
by enriching the existing Action Plan.
During the council meeting, the EU was represented by Luxembourg 's Foreign
Minister Asselborn, whose country holds the rotating EU presidency while
Ukrainian delegation was led by Deputy Prime Minister Rybachuk.
The EU in a press release acknowledged Ukraine's European ambitions and
made clear that a new commitment to democracy and reforms opened new prospects
for both Ukraine and EU-Ukraine relations.
In order to further strengthen and enrich the Action Plan, the EU and
Ukraine agreed the following measures:
--To explore possibilities for closer co-operation in the area of foreign
and security policy, including European Security Defense Policy, and to address
in particular issues of regional stability and enhanced co-operation in both
crisis management and nonproliferation.
--To deepen trade and economic relations between EU and Ukraine.Work on
agreements for steel and textile products for 2005 will beintensified. The
review of the existing feasibility study on establishing a Free Trade Area
between Ukraine and the EU will be accelerated once Ukraine has joined the World
Trade Organization (WTO).
--The EU agrees to lend further support to Ukraine's WTO accession and to
offer Ukraine continued assistance in meeting thenecessary requirements.
--The EU agrees to grant 'Market Economy Status' to Ukraine, assoon as the
limited remaining issues have been satisfactorily resolved.
--The EU agrees to maximize Ukraine's access to funding from the European
Investment Bank (EIB). Up to 250 million euros (about325 million US dollars) of
EIB lending could be made available to Ukraine.
The EU also promised to provide increased assistance to Ukrainethrough the
relevant instruments in order to help Ukraine to pursue the reform process.
Ukrainian President Yushchenko is scheduled to arrive here on Tuesday and
deliver a speech to EU parliament on Wednesday. Enditem
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