BRIEFING
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Subject: UKRAINE DCFTA
Ref. Ares(2021)1327416 - 17/02/2021
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Meeting
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Origin: DG TRADE
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Date: 13 November 2015
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Place: Kiev
Pages 1-12 and 14-40 out of scope
The Dutch referendum is raising concerns that the EU is turning the
back on Ukraine and that the ratification process will soon be
derailed. What is the view of the Commission on this?
• The ratification process of the EU-UA AA/DCFTA is nearing completion; 24 Member States
have so far notified the General Secretariat of the Council of ratification. In other Member
States the process is ongoing.
• The internal procedures for such ratification are a matter of national competence.
• As President Juncker said, it is not for the Commission to tell people how to vote, but it is the
Commission's role to say what the European importance of this vote is.
What will happen if the Dutch vote 'no'?
• We do not want to speculate on potential outcomes as, ultimately, it is for the Dutch
government to decide on any eventual course of action following the referendum.
What is at stake in the vote?
• As explained by President Juncker, this issue goes beyond Dutch interests only. He has
expressed his sincere hope that the Dutch people will not vote 'no' for reasons that have
nothing to do with the Association Agreement itself, and that the referendum should not be
turned into a referendum on Europe.
• President Juncker's message to the Dutch people is to be aware of what they are voting on
when they will be casting their vote on 6 April: "The Dutch voter must realise that he or she
is acting for Europe as a whole when voting on 6 April, and can act as a 'European strategist'.
Each of us is Europe." He said.
Do you expect the Prime Minister/Dutch Government to campaign in
favour of the Association Agreement?
• That is a decision for the Dutch Prime Minister and the Dutch Government.
13/40
Document Outline
- DCFTA implementation
- As regards the preparations for the implementation of the DCFTA on 1 January 2016, Ukraine is advancing with sweeping reforms in various areas broadly in line with the DCFTA. There cannot be doubts on the commitment of the leadership of Ukraine to the...
- Nonetheless, the picture remains mixed. Significant delays subsist in carrying out structural reforms (tax, anti-corruption) and as a result the perception of change is significantly diminished. See report from the ECFIN mission in annex for more det...
- Beyond the current efforts in terms of communication (adoption of laws, claims about the establishment/reforms of the relevant institutions), in fact Ukraine needs to ensure the proper implementation, in particular in the key areas of the DCFTA (TBT, ...
- Indirectly related to the implementation of the DCFTA is the Agricultural Reform Strategy, whose implementation Ukraine should take seriously, as it would help tackling the structural constraints in the farming sector, including SPS.
- Defensives
- 6. Box 1. IMF programme – state of play