Date of release : 21-02-2005

Policy area : General Affairs and External Relations

Event : General Affairs and External Relations Council

Jean Asselborn, Minister for Foreign Affairs, presided over the Cooperation Council between the European Union and Ukraine on 21 February. Ukraine was represented by Oleg Rybachuk, Deputy Prime Minister for European Integration. During the Cooperation Council, President Jean Asselborn and Deputy Prime Minister Oleg Rybachuk signed the first European Union-Ukraine Action Plan in the framework of the European Neighbourhood Policy (ENP).

The European Union also offered its congratulations on the election of a new Ukrainian government and expressed its support for the ambitious program of political and economic reforms in Ukraine.

Minister Asselborn said: "The commitment made by Ukrainian authorities in favour of democracy and reform opens new perspectives in the relationship between the European Union and Ukraine. The European Union emphasised its commitment to support Ukraine at this crucial moment in its history. The implementation of the Action Plan should begin immediately. During the General Affairs and External Relations Council, the Ministers for Foreign Affairs of the European Union reached an agreement on supplementary measures intended to reinforce the action plan, in particular through the rapid initiation of consultations on a "strengthened agreement" between Ukraine and the European Union through European support for the admission of Ukraine to the WTO and through the awarding of market economy status to Ukraine, once it has fulfilled the final requirements." Finally, Jean Asselborn added that "what has happened in Ukraine has not gone unnoticed in Europe; what will happen in Europe will not go unnoticed in Ukraine."