EU-Ukraine relations

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  New Schengen visa policy explained

  May 16, 2013, 5:53 p.m.

  Schengen visas seem to be an ever-green issue in the Ukrainian media. In most, however, one can read irritated stories rather than positive coverage of EU visa policy. One reasons might be the fact that those who obtain Schengen visas without any problem (and these are a vast majority) do not write “thank you letters” to the media, which, in turn, do not focus on such stories.

  Op-ed – by David Stulik
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  Foreign Ministry: Ukrainians pose no migration risks to EU member states

  May 16, 2013, 5:21 p.m.

  Ukraine is not a country that poses migration risks to the European Union, Deputy Foreign Minister of Ukraine Andriy Olefirov has said. 

  Ukraine – by Interfax-Ukraine
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  Tombinski urges Regions Party not to obstruct work of Rada's Committee on EU Integration

  May 16, 2013, 12:53 p.m.

  Head of the EU Delegation to Ukraine Jan Tombinski has urged members of the Party of Regions to stop hindering the work of the Parliamentary Committee on European Integration. 

  Ukraine – by Interfax-Ukraine
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  EU Observer: EU adopts legal basis for Ukraine treaty

  May 16, 2013, 8:59 a.m.

  BRUSSELS - The European Commission will on Wednesday, May 15 adopt a legal proposal for EU countries to sign a major treaty with Ukraine despite scant progress on reform.

  In what EU officials are calling a purely "technical" step, the decision will enable member states to sign a political association and free trade pact with Kiev later this year. 

  Ukraine abroad – by EU Observer
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  Association Agreement success depends on Ukraine, says Lithuanian Foreign Minister

  May 15, 2013, 7:28 p.m.

  Lithuanian Minister of Foreign Affairs Linas Linkevicius has said that the European Union will be ready to sign an Association Agreement with Ukraine in Vilnius later this year, if Kyiv meets the set requirements.

  Politics – by Interfax-Ukraine
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  Ukraine inches toward EU requirements with anti-corruption bill

  May 15, 2013, 5:04 p.m.

  Ukraine’s parliament on May 14 passed an anti-corruption bill that partially meets the European Union’s requirements for visa-free travel. On the same day, however, pro-government lawmakers struck down additional key legislative requirements, namely provisions to protect citizens including minorities from discrimination, and measures to create an independent anti-corruption agency.

  Ukraine – by Mark Rachkevych
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  Kozhara: UK reaffirms support for Ukraine's reform efforts to sign Association Agreement with EU

  May 13, 2013, 6:39 p.m.

  The United Kingdom has reaffirmed its support for Ukraine's reform efforts aimed at signing the Association Agreement with the European Union, reads a joint statement on the results of a meeting between Ukrainian Foreign Minister Leonid Kozhara and UK Foreign Secretary William Hague. 

  Politics – by Interfax-Ukraine
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  Yeliseyev: EU Council approves ratification of amended visa facilitation agreement with Ukraine (UPDATED)

  May 13, 2013, 2:54 p.m.

  The Council of the European Union has approved the amended EU-Ukraine visa facilitation agreement, Ukraine's commissioner on foreign policy and integration processes Kostiantyn Yeliseyev has said. 

  Ukraine – by Interfax-Ukraine
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  Emerging Markets: Ukraine pledges to sign EU pact this year

  May 11, 2013, 5:54 p.m.

  Ukraine may finally opt for an alliance with the European Union after carefully playing off Brussels and Moscow against each other.

  Ukraine will sign a cooperation agreement with the European Union 'by the end of the year', finance minister Yuriy Kolobov told Emerging Markets at the EBRD conference in Istanbul.

  The move will be a significant development in the cat-and-mouse game that Kiev has played with Brussels and Moscow over its future commercial and political allegiance.

  Ukraine abroad – by Emerging Markets
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  Ukraine has little time to catch up on reforms for European integration, says Klitschko

  May 11, 2013, 4:24 p.m.

  Ukraine should demonstrate at the state level the progress in reforms that will bring the country closer to the European community and it is important that the country should catch up on its commitments to the European Union, Leader of the UDAR Party Vitali Klitschko has said. 

  Ukraine – by Interfax-Ukraine
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  Fule: There won’t be postponement for Kyiv in fulfilling EU's requirements

  May 10, 2013, 1:04 p.m.

  European Commissioner for Enlargement and European Neighborhood Policy Stefan Fule has stated that Ukraine has made some progress on the way towards European integration, however Kyiv would not receive any postponement in the issue of fulfilling necessary requirements. 

  Ukraine – by Interfax-Ukraine
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  Financial Times: Pardon of political prisoners opens door to renewed Ukraine-EU dialogue

  April 29, 2013, 8:14 p.m.

  The European Parliament’s decision on April 18 to extend its monitoring mission to Ukraine is a crucial step for the country in the context of its European aspirations. The mission, which has acted as an informal platform to promote dialogue between the European Union and Ukraine, was one factor behind the government’s decision a week earlier to pardon a number of former opposition politicians. They include former ministers for the interior and the environment, Yuri Lutsenko and Heorhy Filichuk, and four others convicted of corruption. The pardons create renewed hope for stronger trade relations between Ukraine and the EU and have already defused tensions between Kyiv and the 27-member bloc. 

  Op-ed – by Financial Times
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  EC labels alleged removal of Tymoshenko's issue from EU-Ukraine agenda as 'paid advertisement'

  April 29, 2013, 3:43 p.m.

  Brussels – The spokesman for the European Commissioner for Enlargement and European Neighborhood Policy Stefan Fule, Peter Stano, has described reports about the alleged removal of the issue of former Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko from the agenda of the EU-Ukraine relations a 'paid advertisement' and 'misleading information.' 

  Ukraine – by Interfax-Ukraine
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  Yanukovych hopes to sign Association Agreement with EU in November

  April 25, 2013, 2:23 p.m.

  Ukraine hopes to sign the Association Agreement with the European Union in November 2013 at the Eastern Partnership summit in Vilnius, Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych has said. 

  Ukraine – by Interfax-Ukraine
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  Deutsche Welle: New chance for Ukraine-EU association deal

  April 22, 2013, 9:47 a.m.

  The European Parliament has been handed a new report looking at Ukraine, which could ultimately pave the way to a landmark political association and free trade agreement with the European Union.

  Ukraine abroad
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  European Parliament recommends easing visa regime with Ukraine

  April 18, 2013, 1:25 p.m.

  BRUSSELS – The European Parliament has approved a recommendation that the EU Council sign an agreement on amendments to the visa facilitation agreement between Ukraine and the EU.

  Ukraine – by Interfax-Ukraine
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  Cox-Kwasniewski mission extended to September (UPDATED)

  April 18, 2013, 1:24 p.m.

   The special mission of the European Parliament to Ukraine, headed by former President of European Parliament Pat Cox and former Polish President Alexander Kwasniewski has been extended to September, according to Jacek Protasiewicz, vice president of the parliament. There are also indications that the mission's mandate might also be extended, but it's not yet clear how.

  Ukraine – by Katya Gorchinskaya
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  Rada to consider bills related to Ukraine's commitments to EU on April 18

  April 18, 2013, 11:38 a.m.

  The Verkhovna Rada, Ukraine's parliament, will start its morning session with the consideration of four bills which are related the country's commitments to the European Union.

  Politics – by Interfax-Ukraine
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  Deutsche Welle: Ukraine's chances for an EU association deal

  April 18, 2013, 8:18 a.m.

  The European Parliament is set to take a close look at a report on Ukraine that could pave the way to a landmark political association and free trade deal with the European Union. 

  Ukraine abroad – by Deutsche Welle
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  Merkel: Ukraine has to solve range of problems hindering signing of Association Agreement with EU

  April 18, 2013, 8:06 a.m.

  A range of problems is hindering the signing of the Association Agreement between Ukraine and the EU apart from the imprisonment of former Ukrainian Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko, Chancellor of Germany Angela Merkel has said.

  Ukraine – by Interfax-Ukraine