On May 12, 2004 the European Commission adopted a Strategy Paper outlining its European Neighbourhood Policy (ENP) and, within the same context, a Country Report on Ukraine. УThis is a step forward in the process started last year in March with the Commission Communication on УWider Europe: NeighbourhoodФ said Steffen Skovmand, Acting Head of the European Commission Delegation to Ukraine.ФThe European NeighbourhoodТs policy vision goes beyond co-operation to involve a significant measure of economic and political integration with Ukraine. This will bring enormous gains to all involved.Ф The ENP is a top foreign policy priority for the Commission. It signals its substantially increased attention to Ukraine and it provides an instrument to reinforce relations between the EU and Ukraine. While Accession is not currently on the agenda for EU-UA relations, the ENP does not contradict the provisions laid downs under Article 49 of the Treaty on the European Union, which provides that any European State which respects the principle of democracy, human rights and the rule of law may apply to become a member of the Union.
Within the framework of the ENP, the EU, together with Ukraine, has been defining a set of priorities, and incorporated them into a joint Action Plan. The final endorsement by both sides of this Action Plan is expected in June.
Key areas included in the Action Plan are: political dialogue and reform; trade and measures preparing partners for gradually obtaining a stake in the EUТs Internal Market; justice and home affairs; energy, transport, information society, environment ,research and innovation; social policy and people-to-people contacts.
The EU will match its ambitions vis-à-vis Ukraine with corresponding financial and other support. Its main-line assistance instruments will continue, but be geared more towards supporting the Action Plans. From 2007 the EU intends to substantially increase funding. And it is developing a new, additional instrument to support cross-border cooperation in much more effective ways than it could do in the past. The Commission also proposes new technical assistance tools: twinning (long-term advisers from Member State administrations working hand-in-hand with their counterparts in Ukraine) and TAIEX (the EUТs technical assistance information and exchange office which is to provide flexible short-term support to Ukraine on implementing EU legislation
Monitoring the fulfilment of the Action Plans will take place within the EU-UA Partnership and Cooperation Agreement.
Mr. Skovmand said that on the basis of its assessment of the results of this monitoring process, the Commission will report periodically on progress achieved.
Decisions may also be taken on this basis, he said, on the next steps in the development of bilateral relations including the possibility of new contractual links with Ukraine which could take the form of a European Neighbourhood Agreement.
For further information please contact Anje Schubert, Press and Information Officer, Tel: (044) 462 00 10. A full version of the Strategy Paper and Country report (English only) can be found on the website of the Delegation www.delukr.cec.eu.int.