Brussels – The European Union (EU) on Tuesday, in a symbolic move, adopted association agreement with Ukraine on the eve of a summit in Kiev.
“This is the final step of the ratification process through which the EU and Ukraine commit to a close, long-term relationship in all main policy areas,’’ the Council of the EU said in a statement.
It added that the agreement would fully kick in on Sept. 1, 2017.
Nevertheless, most of the association agreement signed in May, 2014, is already operational.
“Many political and sectoral parts of the agreement have been provisionally applied since Sept. 1, 2014, while its trade part, the Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area (DCFTA), has been provisionally applied since Jan. 1, 2016,’’ it said.
European Council President, Donald Tusk and European Commission President, Jean-Claude Juncker, are due to meet with Ukrainian President, Petro Poroshenko, at a summit in Kiev on Wednesday and Thursday.
On top of the agenda of the summit are the Ukraine-EU association agreement and the conflict in Ukraine.
However, in a non-binding advisory referendum in April, 2016, a vast majority of the Dutch voters rejected the agreement. (NAN)