Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 23 November 2016
116. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the extent to which the EU continues to have a positive relationship with Ukraine; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36547/16]
View answerThe European Union has a very positive relationship with Ukraine.
The EU is committed to assisting Ukraine in delivering its ambitious and wide-ranging programme of reform and has provided unprecedented levels of support. This assistance includes loans, budget support, humanitarian assistance, technical assistance and trade preferences, granted under the framework for the Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Agreement, which entered into provisional application on 1 January 2016. In addition, the EU provides valuable assistance in civilian security sector reform through its Advisory Mission to Ukraine.
The 18th EU-Ukraine Summit will take place in Brussels tomorrow, 24 November and will provide an opportunity to assess the progress of political and economic reforms in Ukraine.
As regards the conflict in eastern Ukraine, the EU continues to support diplomatic efforts to secure full implementation of the Minsk Agreements within the OSCE Trilateral Contact Group (OSCE, Russia and Ukraine) and its four working groups and the Normandy Format (France, Germany, Russia and Ukraine). The Minsk agreements offer the only basis for a stable and lasting political resolution to the conflict in Ukraine and the European Union will continue to support and facilitate their full implementation. In addition, the EU has condemned and refused to recognise Russia’s illegal annexation of Crimea.
Ireland has excellent relations with Ukraine and is a strong supporter of Ukraine’s reform programme and of diplomatic efforts to secure full implementation of the Minsk Agreements.
