Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 246: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he has taken initiatives through the EU or the UN to establish stronger links with the Ukraine; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7431/06]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 247: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs the extent to which greater links have been established between the EU and the Ukraine; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7432/06]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 246 and 247 together.

Following the Ukrainian people's choice of democracy and reform in the presidential elections of late 2004, Ireland took steps to strengthen bilateral links with Ukraine through increased contact at political level. My visit to Ukraine in July last year and Foreign Minister Tarasyuk's return visit here on 7-8 February constituted the first exchange of official bilateral visits at Foreign Minister level between our two countries.

I warmly welcome the intensification of EU-Ukraine relations in the same period. In the framework of the General Affairs and External Relations Council, Ireland participated actively in the elaboration of an EU policy that would support Ukraine politically and practically in the work of consolidating democracy and implementing economic reform. The approval on 21 February 2005 of an EU-Ukraine action plan under the European neighbourhood policy — and of a series of related measures to strengthen co-operation with Ukraine — was a significant step forward for both sides. Over its three year period, the action plan is set to foster greater economic integration and closer political co-operation between the EU and Ukraine. So long as Ukraine adheres to the path of political and economic reform, it can count on support and assistance from the European Union in meeting these goals.

Closer links are clearly being established under the action plan. When the EU-Ukraine Summit in Kiev on 1 December reviewed progress in the first year of implementation, leaders welcomed increasingly close co-operation in the area of foreign and security policy, where Ukraine has aligned itself with EU positions on relevant regional and international issues, including at the UN. The EU and Ukraine now work together on a number of regional issues, notably in seeking to advance a solution to the Moldova-Transnistria conflict. The EU values the role Ukraine can play in increasing democracy, security and stability in its own region. It has signed agreements with Ukraine on co-operation in EU-led crisis management operations and on procedures for the exchange of classified information.

Some progress has also been made in promoting difficult economic reforms. At the summit, leaders welcomed the granting of market economic status to Ukraine following the Commission's assessment that Ukraine had met the relevant technical criteria. They signed agreements on civil satellite navigation, Galileo, and aviation, and a memorandum of understanding on co-operation in the field of energy. They welcomed the launch of negotiations for agreements on visa facilitation and readmission, stressing the importance of people-to-people contacts. Importantly, the EU side reconfirmed the goal of promoting deep economic integration between the EU and Ukraine, and looked forward to the early start of negotiations on a free trade area with Ukraine once it had joined the WTO. It stressed the EU's commitment to continue to offer assistance to Ukraine in meeting the necessary requirements. Both sides confirmed their commitment to early consultations on a new enhanced agreement to replace the existing Partnership and Co-operation Agreement which is due to expire in 2008.

The parliamentary elections on 26 March are of crucial importance for the continuation of the process of political and economic reform in Ukraine which will, in turn, have significant implications for the further enhancement of Ukraine's relations with the EU in the future.