Local view for "http://purl.org/linkedpolitics/eu/plenary/2002-10-23-Speech-3-248"
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"en.20021023.5.3-248"2
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"Mr President, I am very happy to answer Mr Sacrédeus’s question concerning Ukraine.
At the EU-Ukraine summit in Copenhagen this summer, Ukraine was informed about the Council’s decision in April to highlight the opportunity of strengthening relations between the future enlarged EU and its new neighbours. Both sides emphasised the importance of taking account of the fact that relations between the EU and the countries concerned vary in character and are at different levels of political and economic development.
The EU and Ukraine were agreed that the enlargement process creates new opportunities and challenges in various areas. Both sides confirmed that Ukraine could best make use of these opportunities by stepping up its efforts to adjust its legislation, norms and standards to the EU’s. It was also agreed to step up the relevant partnership and cooperation bodies’ discussions of the effects of enlargement on, for example, trade-related issues, visas, the movement of persons and the promotion of regional and cross-border cooperation.
The EU recognises Ukraine’s European aspirations. It is important for Ukraine to become better at fulfilling its obligations if these aspirations are to have real content. The EU will continue to support Ukraine in the reform process, including the strengthening of the judicial system, media freedom, human rights and civil society.
The Danish Presidency feels duty-bound to step up EU-Ukraine cooperation. The working plan for implementing the EU’s common strategy for Ukraine has been presented to the Council, which examined it on 22 July of this year. The Presidency believes that it should be the EU’s overall objective to make the dialogue and cooperation with Ukraine more focused and results-oriented.
The priorities in this working plan are as follows: first of all, the consolidation of democracy, the rule of law and public institutions; secondly, support for the economic transition process, including Ukraine’s integration into the European and world economies, and for regional cross-border cooperation with neighbouring countries; thirdly, cooperation on strengthening stability and security within and outside Europe; fourthly, the strengthening of cooperation in the environmental and energy fields and in the context of nuclear safety; fifthly, support for reinforced cooperation in connection with enlargement of the EU; and sixthly and finally, the development of cooperation on legal and internal affairs.
The development of an overall EU policy towards the EU’s new neighbours, with full respect for the differences between the countries involved, will help in achieving the overall objectives. On the basis of a common contribution from the High Representative, Mr Solana, and from Commissioner Patten, the Council discussed relations between the enlarged EU and its Eastern neighbours at the meeting on 30 September. The Council reiterated its conviction that EU enlargement will offer a good opportunity to strengthen relations between the EU and its new neighbours with a view to creating stability and narrowing the gap in prosperity at the EU’s new borders."@en1
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