GAERC - Council Conclusions on Ukraine

The Council adopted the following conclusions:

"Recent events in Ukraine demonstrate clearly that the Ukrainian people have chosen the democratic path for their country, based on respect for basic freedoms and on peace. This is credible proof that Ukraine's European aspirations are based on common values shared by both European States and citizens.

The Council welcomes the election of the new President, Viktor Yushchenko, and is pleased at the extensive and ambitious political and economic reforms that he intends to carry out in Ukraine during his term of office, and also his undertaking to respect common European values and his desire to intensify and extend Ukraine's cooperation with the European Union. A new, democratic government committed to reform opens the way to a strengthening of relations between the EU and Ukraine.

Against the backdrop of this far-reaching process, the Council would stress the EU's full support for President Yushchenko and the Ukrainian people and would emphasise that the EU is ready to strengthen its relations with Ukraine, thereby taking maximum advantage of the new opportunities offered by the Action Plan.

The Council, noting with satisfaction that the re-run of the second round of the presidential elections brought Ukraine more closely into line with international standards, is pleased that it will be able, at the EU-Ukraine Cooperation Council meeting planned for 21 February, to launch the Action Plan negotiated jointly by the EU and Ukraine, thus opening the way to closer cooperation between the EU and Ukraine.

Against this background, the Council welcomes the letter from the High Representative and the Commission, setting out ten specific measures to intensify cooperation between the EU and Ukraine.

It will examine them with a view to preparing conclusions for the Council meeting on 21 February and the meeting of the EU-Ukraine Cooperation Council on the same day."

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• Declaration by the Presidency on behalf of the European Union on the parliamentary elections in Ukraine (29/3/2006)
• Ukraine to participate in EU crisis management operations (13/6/2005)
• Speech by Commissioner Ferrero-Waldner on the EU and Ukraine: What lies beyond the horizon? (26/4/2005)
• Commissioner Ferrero-Waldner visits Kiev, Ukraine (16/2/2005)
• EP - The European Parliament and Ukraine (26/1/2005)
• Commissioner Ferrero-Waldner at inauguration of President Yushchenko (21/1/2005)
• EUHR Solana congratulates the President of Ukraine (11/1/2005)