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13 October 2021, 09:17
Key results of the 23 EU-Ukraine Summit for Ukraine
On October 12, the 23rd Summit of Ukraine with the European Union took
place in Kyiv. Parties discussed the implementation of the Association
Agreement between Ukraine and the EU, the next steps in introducing an
in-depth and comprehensive free trade zone, strengthening economic
integration, collaboration on hybrid threats and disinformation
struggle, as well as the Eastern Partnership Summit, scheduled for
December 15 in Brussels. On the results of the summit, a joint
statement of the parties was signed.
Long-awaited “Open Sky”
One of the greatest achievements of this summit for Ukraine is the signing of the Common Aviation Area Agreement with the EU. The Ukraine-EU common aviation area will create conditions for new commercial capabilities of the air carriers of Ukraine and the Member States of the EU, and will contribute to attracting investments in the aviation of Ukraine. This agreement, in particular, will help remove the monopoly on routes established by bilateral agreements, and will facilitate the opening of new routes between Ukrainian and European cities, and as a consequence — will allow to reduce prices for tickets.
Under the “Open Sky” agreement, all Airlines of the European Union will be able to make direct flights from any point of the EU to any airport of Ukraine. The same for Ukrainian carriers. All restrictions on flights between Ukraine and the European Union will be canceled, and the provisions on open and honest competition will guarantee equal conditions for air carriers. Also, the Agreement will facilitate contacts between people and expand commercial opportunities and trade between the EU and Ukraine.
Macro-financial assistance
The European Union confirmed 600 million Euro second tranche of macro-financial assistance to Ukraine. The EU insisted that Ukraine had to fulfil eight steps to receive it. Among the mandatory conditions were: the fight against corruption, reform the judiciary, in particular, the reform of the High Qualifications Commission of Judges and the High Council of Justice, the strengthening of public finance management, good governance and the rule of law, improvement of the business environment and management of state enterprises. During the 23rd Summit the European Union reminded Ukraine on the importance of continuing the implementation of the reforms and adhering to the obligations to the International Monetary Fund: “We welcomed the fulfilment of the conditions of the extraordinary EU Macro-Financial Assistance Program for Ukraine and took note of the decision to disburse its second tranche in the amount of EUR 600 million. We underline the importance of continuing to pursue the related reforms. We reaffirmed the emphasis on maintaining Ukraine's macro-economic stability, and keeping the IMF commitments on track”.
What about integration?
The European Union once again confirmed the European aspirations of Ukraine without any time frames of membership prospects. The Association Agreement with the EU remains the most effective instrument of gradual integration into the European Union: “We recalled that the effective implementation of the Association Agreement and its Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area which, linked to the broader process of regulatory approximation and related necessary reforms, contributes to establishing conditions for enhanced economic and trade relations with the EU leading to Ukraine's further gradual economic integration in the European Union Internal Market, as envisaged in the Association Agreement. We agreed to exploit fully the potential of the Association Agreement and stressed the mutual commitments to that end,” as indicated in the statement.
Economic and Energy Integration
The European Union noted the preliminary assessment of Ukraine's readiness to an Agreement on Conformity Assessment and Acceptance of Industrial Products (ACAA), industrial visa-free. and congratulated the beginning of the second stage of the preliminary assessment of quality infrastructure.
The President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen said: “We share a commitment to strengthening the political association and economic integration of Ukraine with the European Union and progress has been made in many areas. We will continue to work together on the untapped opportunities that the EU-Ukraine Association Agreement has to offer. This, alongside continued unity on sanctions, shows the EU's commitment to Ukraine – one that remains unwavering”.
Ukraine and the EU also agreed to coordinate further steps on integration of gas and electricity markets. The EU confirmed its full support for synchronizing the integrated power system of Ukraine with the European ENTSO-E network after the implementation of all necessary technical and market prerequisites.
Ukraine and the EU emphasized the importance of collaborative work against any potential efforts of third parties to use energy as weapons.
Support with a clear link to the reforms
In a joint statement, according to the results of the summit, the European Union clearly and unequivocally confirmed its support to Ukraine with the remark that this assistance will depend on the implementation of specific reforms. “The EU reaffirmed its continued substantial support for Ukraine with a clear link to the effective implementation of reforms and policy measures. The EU recalled that since 2014 the EU and European Financial Institutions have mobilised unprecedented package of more than EUR 17 billion in loans and grants. The EU intends to propose the 2021 bilateral financial assistance under the Neighbourhood, Development and International Cooperation Instrument (NDICI) to support key reforms and the implementation of the EU-Ukraine Association Agreement, including its Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area,” is underlined in a common statement.
Ukraine's access to the Horizon Europe and Creative Europe programs
The Summit also provided the opportunity to finalise the association of Ukraine to Horizon Europe, the EU research and innovation programme for 2021-2027, as well as the Euratom Research and Training Programme for 2021-2025 and Creative Europe program. Ukrainian researchers, innovators and representatives of the creative sector will be able to participate in these programs on the same conditions as citizens of the EU Member States.
Support for sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine
The European Union has once again confirmed that it does not recognize and continues to condemn the illegal Russia’s annexation of Ukrainian Crimea and Sevastopol, strengthening the militarization of the peninsula, a serious deterioration of the human rights situation, as well as the restriction of the freedom of entry of Ukrainian citizens into the Crimean Peninsula and departure from it. “We reiterated our call on Russia to immediately stop fueling the conflict by providing financial and military support to the armed formations it backs and to withdraw the Russian troops and materiel at the eastern border of Ukraine and on the Crimean Peninsula”.
Long-awaited “Open Sky”
One of the greatest achievements of this summit for Ukraine is the signing of the Common Aviation Area Agreement with the EU. The Ukraine-EU common aviation area will create conditions for new commercial capabilities of the air carriers of Ukraine and the Member States of the EU, and will contribute to attracting investments in the aviation of Ukraine. This agreement, in particular, will help remove the monopoly on routes established by bilateral agreements, and will facilitate the opening of new routes between Ukrainian and European cities, and as a consequence — will allow to reduce prices for tickets.
Under the “Open Sky” agreement, all Airlines of the European Union will be able to make direct flights from any point of the EU to any airport of Ukraine. The same for Ukrainian carriers. All restrictions on flights between Ukraine and the European Union will be canceled, and the provisions on open and honest competition will guarantee equal conditions for air carriers. Also, the Agreement will facilitate contacts between people and expand commercial opportunities and trade between the EU and Ukraine.
Macro-financial assistance
The European Union confirmed 600 million Euro second tranche of macro-financial assistance to Ukraine. The EU insisted that Ukraine had to fulfil eight steps to receive it. Among the mandatory conditions were: the fight against corruption, reform the judiciary, in particular, the reform of the High Qualifications Commission of Judges and the High Council of Justice, the strengthening of public finance management, good governance and the rule of law, improvement of the business environment and management of state enterprises. During the 23rd Summit the European Union reminded Ukraine on the importance of continuing the implementation of the reforms and adhering to the obligations to the International Monetary Fund: “We welcomed the fulfilment of the conditions of the extraordinary EU Macro-Financial Assistance Program for Ukraine and took note of the decision to disburse its second tranche in the amount of EUR 600 million. We underline the importance of continuing to pursue the related reforms. We reaffirmed the emphasis on maintaining Ukraine's macro-economic stability, and keeping the IMF commitments on track”.
What about integration?
The European Union once again confirmed the European aspirations of Ukraine without any time frames of membership prospects. The Association Agreement with the EU remains the most effective instrument of gradual integration into the European Union: “We recalled that the effective implementation of the Association Agreement and its Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area which, linked to the broader process of regulatory approximation and related necessary reforms, contributes to establishing conditions for enhanced economic and trade relations with the EU leading to Ukraine's further gradual economic integration in the European Union Internal Market, as envisaged in the Association Agreement. We agreed to exploit fully the potential of the Association Agreement and stressed the mutual commitments to that end,” as indicated in the statement.
Economic and Energy Integration
The European Union noted the preliminary assessment of Ukraine's readiness to an Agreement on Conformity Assessment and Acceptance of Industrial Products (ACAA), industrial visa-free. and congratulated the beginning of the second stage of the preliminary assessment of quality infrastructure.
The President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen said: “We share a commitment to strengthening the political association and economic integration of Ukraine with the European Union and progress has been made in many areas. We will continue to work together on the untapped opportunities that the EU-Ukraine Association Agreement has to offer. This, alongside continued unity on sanctions, shows the EU's commitment to Ukraine – one that remains unwavering”.
Ukraine and the EU also agreed to coordinate further steps on integration of gas and electricity markets. The EU confirmed its full support for synchronizing the integrated power system of Ukraine with the European ENTSO-E network after the implementation of all necessary technical and market prerequisites.
Ukraine and the EU emphasized the importance of collaborative work against any potential efforts of third parties to use energy as weapons.
Support with a clear link to the reforms
In a joint statement, according to the results of the summit, the European Union clearly and unequivocally confirmed its support to Ukraine with the remark that this assistance will depend on the implementation of specific reforms. “The EU reaffirmed its continued substantial support for Ukraine with a clear link to the effective implementation of reforms and policy measures. The EU recalled that since 2014 the EU and European Financial Institutions have mobilised unprecedented package of more than EUR 17 billion in loans and grants. The EU intends to propose the 2021 bilateral financial assistance under the Neighbourhood, Development and International Cooperation Instrument (NDICI) to support key reforms and the implementation of the EU-Ukraine Association Agreement, including its Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area,” is underlined in a common statement.
Ukraine's access to the Horizon Europe and Creative Europe programs
The Summit also provided the opportunity to finalise the association of Ukraine to Horizon Europe, the EU research and innovation programme for 2021-2027, as well as the Euratom Research and Training Programme for 2021-2025 and Creative Europe program. Ukrainian researchers, innovators and representatives of the creative sector will be able to participate in these programs on the same conditions as citizens of the EU Member States.
Support for sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine
The European Union has once again confirmed that it does not recognize and continues to condemn the illegal Russia’s annexation of Ukrainian Crimea and Sevastopol, strengthening the militarization of the peninsula, a serious deterioration of the human rights situation, as well as the restriction of the freedom of entry of Ukrainian citizens into the Crimean Peninsula and departure from it. “We reiterated our call on Russia to immediately stop fueling the conflict by providing financial and military support to the armed formations it backs and to withdraw the Russian troops and materiel at the eastern border of Ukraine and on the Crimean Peninsula”.