You're reading: Barroso: Purpose of EU-Ukraine Summit to renew joint commitment to Association Agenda

Brussels, February 25 (Interfax-Ukraine) - European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso has said that the EU-Ukraine Summit will be used to renew joint commitment to the Association Agenda, he said on Friday in Brussels before the summit that is to take place on February 25, 2013, the European Commission has reported.

“Ukraine is an important partner of the EU. Our relations are broad and our common aim is the political association and economic integration of Ukraine with the European Union. The blueprint for the further development of our relations – the Association Agreement and its Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Areas – is in front of us and the steps and criteria for its signing are clearly defined. Decisive action and concrete reforms that consolidate the values and principles of the Association Agreement within Ukraine are necessary. We will use the Summit to renew our joint commitment to this agenda,” President Barroso said.

Commenting on the eve of the summit, President Van Rompuy said: “This summit takes place at an important moment in our relations. There is now a historic opportunity to make a breakthrough in EU-Ukraine relations through the possible signing in November of the Association Agreement with its Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area. But signature will only happen if Ukraine now seizes the opportunity by taking determined action and making tangible progress on the three areas of EU concern: follow up to electoral shortcomings, addressing the issue of selective justice and progressing on general reform agenda. The core part of the summit will be focused on the necessary steps to create the right political circumstances and I hope that the summit will confirm an unequivocal commitment to them.”