European Neighbourhood Policy: Commission proposes Action Plan for Ukraine

The European Commission today proposed the first Action Plan for Ukraine within the framework of the European Neighbourhood Policy (ENP). The Action Plan, which has been developed in close consultations with Ukraine throughout 2004, is a political document laying out priority objectives for cooperation between Ukraine and the EU. It is tailor-made to reflect Ukraine’s political and economic situation. Intensified cooperation could cover a broad range of areas, including political dialogue, economic and trade relations, people-to-people contacts, cross border co-operation and shared responsibility in conflict prevention and conflict resolution. The Commission has adopted the Action Plan for Ukraine as a demonstration of its full commitment to the country. The Commission recommends that the Council transmit this Plan to the EU – Ukraine< strong> Co-operation Council for approval as soon as developments, including the holding of free and fair Presidential elections, make it possible to envisage implementation.

“My aim is to create a ring of friends around the borders of our enlarged EU” said Benita Ferrero-Waldner, Commissioner for External Relations and the European Neighbourhood Policy. “We have worked with our neighbours to devise tailor- made plans that meet the needs and reflect the requests of each partner. Our offer – greater co operation, more financial assistance, and a chance to benefit from a closer relationship with Europe, - will bring real benefits to both sides. Implementation of the Action Plan will provide a basis for further integrating a democratic Ukraine into European economic and social structures and to strengthen political and economic reforms.”

The Ukraine Action Plan is one of seven adopted by the European Commission today. The other partner countries for which Action Plans have been adopted are Jordan, Moldova, Tunisia, Morocco, Israel and the Palestinian Authority.

The Action Plans reflect the EU’s determination not to allow new dividing lines to develop around the enlarged Union, but rather to export the stability and prosperity that the EU enjoys. The Plans will:

*offer assistance in bringing legislation or regulations in line with the EU to increase access to the EU internal market

*offer participation in a number of EU programmes including in the fields of education, research and environment

*step up co-operation on border management, migration, trafficking in human beings, organised crime, money laundering and financial and economic crimes

* improve links with the EU in the fields of energy, transport, environment and information technology.

*increase dialogue and co-operation on counter-terrorism, non-proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, as well as efforts to resolve regional conflict.

Amongst other things, the Uk raine Action Plan foresees co-operation to strengthen the institutions guaranteeing democracy, human rights and the rule of law. It puts a particular focus on the democratic conduct of elections in accordance with OSCE and Council of Europe norms and standards. The conduct of the ongoing presidential elections and of the next parliamentary elections in 2006 in accordance with OSCE standards and OSCE/ODIHR recommendations, including on the media, are important benchmarks within the Action Plan.

In the Action Plan, Ukraine undertakes to ensure full respect for the freedom of the media and expression and for the rights of journalists, including through an improved legal and administrative framework.

Ukraine would also further pursue judicial reform so as to ensure independence, impartiality and efficiency of the judiciary. Taking measures to tackle corruption is alos an important objective of the Action Plan.

Furthermore, the Action Plan will provide a basis for intensified EU-Ukraine co-operation on a number of regional and international issues, including on conflict prevention and crisis management. Supporting the search for a viable settlement of the Transnistria conflict will be of particular importance.

Underling the EU’s firm support to Ukraine’s efforts for joining WTO, the Action Plan also foresees looking at the feasibility of establishing an EU-Ukraine Free Trade Area following Ukraine’s accession to the WTO.

The implementation of the ENP will be supported by increased financial assistance. Under existing budget lines TACIS and MEDA the ENP partners receive ?8.5 billion 2000-2006. The Commission has proposed to nearly double this amount for the period 2007-2013 with an allocation under the new European Neighbourhood and Partnership Instrument of just under ?15 billion.