29 July 2013
MEDIA RELEASE
EU remains committed to Ukraine’s Euro-integration
The commitment of the European Union (EU) to Ukraine’s Euro-integration remains firm and unanimous.
In his letter of 28 June 2013 to EU leaders, Ukrainian World Congress (UWC) President Eugene Czolij requested clarification of a statement in the Lough Erne G8 Leaders’ Communiqué that appeared to endorse trade and economic integration of Russia with Ukraine – which would be a clear contradiction of the existing EU policies supporting the signing of the EU‑Ukraine Association Agreement.
At the request of the President of the European Commission, José Manuel Barroso, on 24 July 2013, Gunnar Wiegand, Director for Russia, Eastern Partnership, Central Asia, Regional Cooperation & OSCE with the European External Action Service, sent a response letter emphasizing that through the Eastern Partnership, the EU remains firmly committed to the objective of political association and economic integration of its Eastern partners with the EU.
“Signing the EU-Ukraine Association Agreement, including its Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area – to date the most comprehensive agreement that the EU has negotiated with a non-Member State – would be a very significant step in this direction,” writes Gunnar Wiegand. “The EU is unanimously committed to signing the AA/DCFTA as set out in the December 2012 Foreign Affairs Council conclusions, but only progress in Ukraine on the agreed benchmarks can enable us to reach this common objective.”
“The Ukrainian World Congress is calling upon everyone, once again, to maximize their efforts to ensure that the already initialed EU-Ukraine Association Agreement is signed during the 28-29 November 2013 Third Summit of the Eastern Partnership member countries in Vilnius, Lithuania, in the best strategic interests of Europe and Ukraine”, stated UWC President Eugene Czolij.
Media Contact: Irene Mycak
UKRAINIAN WORLD CONGRESS
145 Evans Ave., Suite 207
Toronto, ON
M8Z 5X8 Canada
Tel. (416) 323-3020
Fax (416) 323-3250
e-mail: [email protected]
website: www.ukrainianworldcongress.org
The UWC is the international coordinating body for Ukrainian communities in the diaspora representing the interests of over 20 million Ukrainians. The UWC has member organizations in 33 countries and ties with Ukrainians in 14 additional countries. Founded in 1967 as a non-profit corporation, the UWC was recognized in 2003 by the United Nations Economic and Social Council as a non-governmental organization (NGO) with special consultative status.
