Merkel: Ukraine isn’t ready for Association Agreement

Germany’s Chancellor Merkel has said that in order to move closer to the EU, Ukraine must resolve a “whole range of problems”. She says that this is not just the situation with Yulia Tymoshenko, but about the legal system in Ukraine as a whole and about observance of human rights and civil liberties. .

Angela Merkel was speaking after talks with Estonia’s Prime Minister Andrus Ansil. She added, however, that it remained the EU’s aim to establish closer relations with Ukraine.

Andrus Ansin noted that Ukraine is an important partner for the EU and that therefore the Association Agreement should come into force. He acknowledged however that there was “a long way” to go.

He also spoke in support of abolishing visas for Ukraine, Russia and other countries of the East European Partnership. This could not, however, happen immediately since “some very specific criteria” needed to be fulfilled. These included the introduction of biometric passports and abolition of registration of EU country nationals coming to those countries.

On Thursday, 18 April, the European Parliament is due to hear a report prepared by the Cox and Kwaśniewski EU Delegation.  As reported, the former EP President  and former Polish President have visited Ukraine a number of times, endeavouring to

Achieve resolution of some of the major obstacles to the signing of the EU-Ukraine Association Agreement.  These obviously include the imprisonment of former Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko and selective justice.