Decree suspending the Association Agreement between Ukraine and the EU

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In the decree of November 21, 2013, 2:58 p.m., the Ukrainian government justified the suspension of the process for the preparation of the Association Agreement between the European Union and Ukraine . It was published by the Information and Communication Department of the Secretariat of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine. The basis was a cabinet meeting on November 21, 2013, in which it was decided to suspend the association agreement for reasons of national security.

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It was decided to conduct an in-depth investigation to determine what measures Ukraine should take to make up for lost production. For this, trade relations with Russia and other countries would have to be examined. The government decree proposes that the European Union, the Russian Federation and the Ukraine form a tripartite commission to deal with the complex issues relating to production potential, international trade and economic relations, expansion and promotion of trade, liberalization of markets, and harmonization of company law etc. to clarify.

It is requested that an active dialogue with the Russian Federation and the CIS countries on establishing economic relations should begin in order to maintain and strengthen joint economic policy efforts.

The aim of cooperation with the CIS in various economic sectors is to preserve jobs and solve social problems by strengthening the economic stability of the state.

Justification of the government

The day after the decree, Prime Minister Azarov explained the reasons for the suspension of the agreement in a parliamentary speech. In addition to the economic and social consequences of the decline in the production of chemicals and chemical products by 19%, the production volume in the machine industry by 14%, steel production by 6%, of construction products by 16%, he mentions the decline in exports to Russia by around 2 Billion US dollars, Israel (up 12.8%), India (up 15.6%), Indonesia (down 31.4%), South Korea (down 65.1%) as the exclusively economic and purely tactical reasons of the Suspension that will not change the longstanding successful strategy of rapprochement with the EU. The countries of the customs union have decided to exclude Ukraine from the CIS free trade area if Ukraine forms a free trade area with the EU. The rating agency Fitch lowered Ukraine's creditworthiness, mainly because of the unsolved problems in economic and trade relations with the Russian Federation. There would be no compensation for the losses due to the closure of markets in the customs union, especially since the International Monetary Fund had set out conditions for a loan, the amount of which was exactly enough to pay off the debts at the IMF. These demands are: almost a doubling of tariffs for housing and communal services, the freezing of salaries, pensions and social benefits at the current level, a significant reduction in government spending, an abolition of tax breaks for farmers and a number of requirements for monetary policy. "In view of the foregoing, it is evident that the government's top priority was to restore normal relations with the Russian Federation and resolve all disputes. The main reason for complications in relations with Russia and for the introduction of protective measures on the part of Russia was the possible creation of a free trade regime between Ukraine and the European Union. Our partners are concerned about the possible duty-free import of European goods through the territory of Ukraine and the considerable economic losses caused by it. " Ukraine has therefore proposed trilateral negotiations, which Russia has agreed to after long negotiations.

background

Work on the Association Agreement had already been going on for seven years. It should be signed a year in advance. The suspension was interpreted as a result of Russia's influence, but also as an expression of Ukraine's dilemma of having to choose between the EU and Russia. The decision of the Ukrainian government also determined the conditions for disbursing aid loans. The International Monetary Fund (IMF) had imposed drastic austerity measures. The EU called for massive structural reforms. In the West German press, the cause was mainly seen in the fact that the Ukrainian government leaned against the release of Tymoshenko, which the Commission had made a condition of association, and in a power game by Yanukovych between the EU and Russia to agree the terms of accession for Ukraine improve. This was interpreted as an attempt at blackmail.

reception

The Ukrainian government's decree was met with surprise by the media and politicians. However, the decision was not an abrupt one, but was expected after lengthy negotiations over seven years. Rebecca Harms commented in Die Zeit : "Everyone who has followed the negotiations over the past few months (could) see the ups and downs, the incalculable back and forth in Kiev. But with regard to Ukraine, one thing remains in the EU to this day always the same: It has to be really big before you even really look. Ulrich Krökel had already commented on November 14, 2013 in Die Zeit : "At the moment , it looks like a contract will fail."

Effects

The suspension of the signing sparked protests across the country that eventually led to the overthrow of the Ukrainian government.

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ http://www.kmu.gov.ua/control/uk/publish/article?art_id=246864953&cat_id=244276429
  2. ↑ http://www.bpb.de/internationales/europa/ukraine/174178/dokumentation-das-europaeische-parlament-und-die-staatsduma-russlands-zur-situation-in-der-ukraine-vor-dem-gipfel -in-vilnius? p = all Document in unofficial German translation in: Ukraine-Analyzes, Documentation: The European Parliament and the Russian State Duma on the situation in Ukraine before the summit in Vilnius, Federal Agency for Political Education November 28, 2013
  3. ↑ http://www.bpb.de/internationales/europa/ukraine/174178/dokumentation-das-europaeische-parlament-und-die-staatsduma-russlands-zur-situation-in-der-ukraine-vor-dem-gipfel -in-vilnius? p = all Document in unofficial German translation in: Ukraine-Analyzes, Documentation: The European Parliament and the Russian State Duma on the situation in Ukraine before the summit in Vilnius, Federal Agency for Political Education November 28, 2013
  4. ↑ Archive link ( Memento of the original from July 15, 2014 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was automatically inserted and not yet checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice.  @1@ 2Template: Webachiv / IABot / www.azarov.ua
  5. ↑ Ulrich Kroekel: Ukraine: Yanukovych makes a fool of the EU. In: Zeit Online. November 14, 2013, accessed August 13, 2014 .
  6. ↑ Rebecca Harms: Ukraine: Europe's weakness helps Russia. In: Zeit Online. November 28, 2013, accessed August 13, 2014 .
  7. ↑ Ulrich Kroekel: Ukraine: Yanukovych makes a fool of the EU. In: Zeit Online. November 14, 2013, accessed August 13, 2014 .