EU Council postpones enforcement of agreement on free trade with Ukraine until late 2015
BRUSSELS. Sept 29 (Interfax) - The Council of the European Union on Monday decided to postpone the beginning of the implementation of the agreement on a free trade zone between the EU and Ukraine until late 2015, as per the three-party agreements between the EU, Russia and Ukraine of September 12.
A statement to this effect was made by an official representative of the Council of the European Union on Monday.
The agreement on the free trade zone is part of the association agreement between Ukraine and the EU.
The press service for the Council of the European Union said today's decision amends the decision made on July 20, 2014.
In accordance with these changes, temporary enforcement of the provisions of the association agreement dealing with Chapter 4 of the agreement (free trade zone) will be postponed until December 31, 2015.
The decision was made to fulfill the agreement reached on September 12, 2014 by the Ukrainian Foreign Minister Pavlo Klimkin, Russian Trade and Economic Development Minister Alexei Ulyukayev, and European Commissioner for Trade Karel De Guht.
At the same time, the parts of the association agreement dealing with issues relating to foreign policy, internal affairs and justice, sectoral cooperation, and institutional issues will be enforced from November 1, 2014.
On September 16, the Ukrainian parliament and the European Parliament simultaneously ratified the association agreement. Negotiations on this agreement have been conducted since 2007.
