You're reading: Expert: Ukraine to hold talks with Customs Union more confidently after political association with EU

Ukraine will hold talks on cooperation with the Customs Union countries more confidently after it signs the Association Agreement with the European Union and moves to the first phase of EU integration, Deputy Director General of the Razumkov Center Valeriy Chaly has said.

“I think that any status of its kind is an interim decision. It’s obvious that the Customs Union will deepen integration (the issue currently concerns the more deeply integrated union EurAsEC by 2015),” he said in an interview with Interfax-Ukraine on Tuesday.

“Therefore, the 3+1 formula, which changes into the 3+1/2 formula, in fact does not change anything – Ukraine needs to make a choice, and that choice is the signing of the Association Agreement, the transition to the first phase of real integration into the EU and political association, and then the holding of talks with the countries of the Customs Union. Such a scenario would be more effective, and then Ukraine’s position would be more confident in talks with the Customs Union and Russia,” Chaly said.

The expert said the documents of the Customs Union do not envisage observer status, and according to the protocol, the only option for working with the Customs Union is accession to it through the adoption of the EurAsEC package and further accession to all agreements.

“This doesn’t mean that such a scenario is impossible. If the Customs Union countries change the regulatory framework and introduce such a provision, then, of course, it will be possible to talk about observer status,” Chaly said.

He also added: “It’s necessary to conduct an additional analysis of the situation to find out whether this status is necessary and productive for Ukraine, but it’s clear that Ukraine’s interest in understanding what is going on in the Customs Union is natural. There are already structures in the government that are working in the Eurasian Economic Commission on information exchange. Obviously, such a status, in terms of international law, should not conflict with the signing of the Association Agreement, although it’s already important to look at the document.”