Simon Coveney
Question:79 Mr. Coveney asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the priorities which have been set for EU relations with Russia, Belarus and the Ukraine. [26512/02]
Written Answers. - EU Relations with Russia, Belarus and Ukraine.
The Copenhagen European Council concluded that the enlargement of the European Union on 1 May 2004 will strengthen the EU's relations with Russia. The EU reaffirmed its wish to enhance its relations with Ukraine, Moldova and Belarus based on a long-term approach promoting democratic and economic reforms, sustainable development and trade. The Commission and the Secretary General-High Representative, Javier Solana, will bring forward proposals to enhance EU relations with Ukraine, Belarus and Moldova.
The European Union's common strategy on Russia, which was adopted by the European Council in June 1999, sets out EU objectives in relation to Russia. These are: the consolidation of democracy, the rule of law, and public institutions in Russia; integration of Russia into a common European economic and social space; co-operation to strengthen stability and security in Europe and beyond; and co-operation on areas of common interest such as energy policy, nuclear safety, environmental protection, the fight against organised crime, money-laundering, and trafficking.
The common strategy of the EU on Russia will be revised during the first half of 2003. The EU will continue to work for the creation of the common European economic space and an energy dialogue between the EU and Russia. Substantial progress regarding negotiations on Russia's accession to the WTO will be pursued.
The core of the relationship between the EU and Russia is the Partnership and Co-operation Agreement, PCA, which came into force in December 1997. The PCA aims to promote Russia's integration into a wider area of co-operation in Europe, and to create the conditions for the future establishment of a free trade agreement between the EU and Russia.
The European Union has given a high priority to the protection of human rights. The EU raised its concerns about the situation in Chechnya at the 58th UN Commission on Human Rights in Geneva in April 2002. The Danish Presidency of the EU raised the matter again at the last EU-Russia Summit in Brussels on 11 November 2002.
The EU General Affairs Council of September 1997 set out a framework for the EU's future relations with Belarus. The Council expressed the hope that Belarus would take its place among European democratic countries and emphasised the Union's continuing willingness to support the Belarusian authorities in drawing up a blueprint for a genuine process of democratisation.
The EU has stressed to Belarus that it will respond positively to all reforms initiated by that country. Discussion on the realignment of EU policy towards Belarus has, in fact, been ongoing since the presidential elections in 2001. However, the poor human rights record in Belarus, together with the refusal of the Belarusian Government to renew the visas of the last international staff members working at the OSCE advisory and monitoring group, AMG, office in Minsk, which has resulted in the effective closure of the AMG, has prompted 14 of the 15 member states, including Ireland, to take the necessary national measures to prevent the entry into their territories of eight governmental figures, including the President of Belarus, Mr. Lukashenko.
The European Council adopted a common strategy on Ukraine in December 1999. The main objectives of the EU's policy towards Ukraine are set out in the strategy. They include the following: supporting the democratic and economic transition process in Ukraine; contributing to the consolidation of democracy, the rule of law, public institutions and respect for human rights; support for Ukraine's integration into the European and world economy; strengthening stability and security in Europe and beyond; strengthened co-operation between EU and Ukraine in the context of EU enlargement; co-operation in the fields of environment, energy and nuclear safety; co-operation in the field of justice and home affairs, and the strengthening of regional and cross-border co-operation.
Ukraine and Belarus, together with Moldova, are the countries for which the so-called "New Neighbours" initiative will apply. This initiative is designed to provide a framework for the enlarged EU's relations with a number of countries in Eastern Europe. In this regard, the General Affairs and External Relations Council on 18 and 19 November 2002 acknowledged the need to formulate an ambitious, long-term and integrated approach towards Ukraine, Moldova and Belarus, with the aim of promoting democratic and economic reforms, sustainable development and trade, thus helping to ensure greater stability and prosperity at and beyond the new borders of the Union.
Question No. 80 answered with Question No. 43.