The President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko, heads of states and governments of the European Union, the European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso and the European Council President Herman Van Rompuy signed the Association Agreement between Ukraine and the EU. The signing took place during the EU summit, which is taking place on June 27 in Brussels.
The leaders of the European Union, during the ceremony, said that the EU knows about the European choice of Ukraine and hinted at further rapprochement. "I believe that it (signing of three agreements with the countries of the Eastern Partnership) is of great importance not only for those countries, but also for Europe" – José Manuel Barroso said before the ceremony.
"I think this is the most important historical day since Ukraine gained independence," – Poroshenko said. Also, the president made a unilateral declaration of Ukraine’s European choice and diplomatically criticized the EU for indecision on the European future of Kyiv.
De jure, two documents will be signed with Ukraine – the agreement itself, and the "final" act confirming the signing of all its chapters. This procedure is necessary due to the fact that part of the agreement was signed back in March. That document was signed by all parties, including the Ukrainian Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk.
Before the Ukrainian agreement, the EU leaders also signed similar documents with Moldova and Georgia.
In order to begin the temporary implementation of the agreement, it must be ratified by the Ukrainian Parliament. The EU stressed the need for quick ratification, no later than this summer – otherwise Ukraine may lost some trade preferences in 2013.
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