The EU is not ready for “strong Association” with Kiev

Hugues Mingarelli explained how high can Ukraine count.

Ukraine should focus on the implementation of existing Association Agreements and deep and comprehensive free trade area with the EU, instead of asking about the new “enhanced Association.” This was stated by the head of the EU delegation in Ukraine Hugues Mingarelli in an interview with Interfax-Ukraine.

“From my point of view, our joint priority task for Ukraine and the EU is the introduction of the Association Agreement and deep and comprehensive free trade area. It is the interest of Ukraine – not to ask about the new agreement and to enforce an existing,” – said the diplomat.

Mingarelli also expressed hope for early completion of the ratification of the Association Agreement EU-Ukraine by the Senate of the Netherlands, and noted that the most important points of the agreement were already being implemented.

“We don’t just sit and wait, when the Netherlands will ratify the agreement – we executed this agreement, as they say, de facto,” he said.

The Ambassador also expressed the opinion that the Ukrainian government should concentrate on implementation of the agreement on free trade zone.

“If Ukraine implementeret FTA with the EU, it eliminates all barriers to trade and investment between Ukraine and the EU, which means that the Ukrainian economy will become part of the joint European market. This is the maximum that you can get today,” said Mingarelli.

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