Finland optimistically concludes its presiding the EU. The chairperson’s position will go to Germany from January 1, 2007 for a six-month term. Official Helsinki is looking at the relations between Ukraine and the EU optimistically. ‘I am very optimistic about the future development of these relations,’ stated Laura Reinila at the briefing in the Ukrainian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. She added that a lot depends upon Ukrainian state.
Summarizing Finnish presiding in the European Union, L. Reinila reminded that for Ukraine initializing of the agreements between the EU and Ukraine on the simplification of the visa procedures and readmission at the Helsinki Summit has become one of the main results of the Finnish leadership in the European Union. According to the ambassador the intensified dialog between Ukraine and the EU has recently become more open and sincere. ‘Particular steps have replaced political declarations, and Eurointegration has seized to be just a matter of your nation’s external political orientation. This process is supposed to include internal reforms in various areas,’ the Interfax quotes the Finnish ambassador. She also emphasized that the EU welcomes adoption of a pack of laws vital for entering the WTO in Ukraine. ‘The EU was pleasantly surprised how quickly it all happened,’ said L. Reinila. She also stated that ‘Ukraine has successfully passed the main test on the way to the WTO’, and reminded that the adoption of these laws enables the EU to start negotiations with Ukraine on establishing the free trade zone soon. ‘Formally Ukraine may enter the WTO in February 2007, when they hold a conference in Brussels, which usually considers such problems,’ said L. Reinila, adding, ‘At least it’s going to happen quite soon’.
They monitor Ukrainian political declarations thoroughly in Brussels. According to L. Reinila, Ukraine’s joining most of the EU statements has demonstrated the Ukrainian policy closing that of the EU.
COMMENTARY
Arkadiy MOSHES, the expert of the Finnish Institute of International Relations
The Finnish presiding in the EU can be called a quite successful one. Finland had to face several unexpected situations. First of all it was the Middle East crisis, where due to Finland’s activities the European Union has acted as a single and very active international player. The success in developing the internal European situation is also worth mentioning. The process of building the EU policy on migration continued. The future of the EU expanding to the West Balkans got clearer. What didn’t Finland manage to do? There were no breakthroughs in relations with Russia, which had been declared by Finland in the beginning of its office as priorities.
As to Ukraine, it should be considered that Ukraine was not a priority for this office. Besides, quite dramatic processes of composing the government, concordance of positions on the strategic directions of the country’s development among the ruling Ukrainian elite, and attempts to understand which particular way to go took place in Ukraine at that time. No wonder the results of the presiding in the Ukrainian direction are more than humble. The only one was the initiating of the agreements on simplification of the visa procedures and readmission. Of course, it’s not enough. Much more could probably have been achieved. The Ukrainian parliament’s adopting the laws on the WTO is a positive signal about Ukraine’s future. As the future of Ukraine is seen in joining (on the terms of equality) the process of globalization and that of the world division of labor, it is very good that those laws were adopted. At least there was a considerable progress in recent months. It certainly opens new prospects for the development of the relations between Ukraine and the EU, and for establishing the free trade area. But it’s too soon to speak about all that joyfully or euphorically. The steps are right. But they are just the first steps. They are critically important but there is still the whole road ahead.
