Ukraine’s Choice: European Association Agreement or Eurasian Union?

Published Sept. 17, 2013 at 6:45 pm

Since gaining independence in December 1991, Ukraine has vacillated between the European Union and Russia for economic and political cooperation.

Until recently neither had offered Ukraine much, but in the last few months, things have heated up. Ukraine’s intention to sign an Association Agreement for political association and economic integration with the European Union has raised a furor in the Kremlin, which is now trying to block Ukraine from aligning itself with the European Union. Moscow has imposed trade sanctions in clear violation of its obligations in the World Trade Organization (WTO) and is pursuing an intense confrontation.

Ukraine concluded negotiations on a deep and comprehensive free trade area (DCFTA) with the European Union in late 2011 and the Association Agreement in March 2012. The Association Agreement consists of over 1,200 pages, of which DCFTA forms the bulk with some 1,000 pages. The agreement is comprehensive covering all areas of interest.

It offers enhanced cooperation in 28 key policy areas, including political cooperation, foreign and security policy, justice, and freedom. It aims to accelerate the deepening of political and economic relations between Ukraine and the European Union and gradually integrate Ukraine into the EU internal market. The Association Agreement thus provides for significant legal, regulatory, and political convergence with the European Union, for which the European Union offers considerable assistance. Yet it stops short of granting EU membership.