Русский
English
Ukraine, the EU and Russia have not agreed on an agreement on free trade zone between “Ukraine” and the EU, which shall enter into force on the 1st of January, 2016.
As it was reported by Reuters, “Ukraine”, the European Union and Russia in the trilateral talks on Tuesday, on the 1st of December, have not reached agreement on a free trade zone between “Ukraine” and the EU. At the same time, the parties agreed to continue negotiations.
“Now the clock is ticking very fast … from January 1, would apply the agreement on free trade zone,” said the European Commissioner for trade Cecilia Malmstrem after talks with foreign Minister of Ukraine Pavlo Klimkin and Minister of economy of Russia Alexei Ulyukayev.
The Commissioner also noted that negotiations at the technical level will continue next week.
Some of the technical issues related to the work of customs, food safety or other barriers to trade. However, other issues are political and cannot be resolved by the European Commission, added Malmstrem.
“We agreed to continue consultations at the technical level. Then we’ll see whether it makes sense for further consultations,” added after talks Klimkin.
He noted that the Ukrainian side intends to concentrate on sanitary and phytosanitary standards, and customs administration. According to him, Russia wants to join the consultations, discussions about the energy sector, however, the Minister stressed that the issue of another discussion.
“Russia, Ukraine and the EU had not reached agreement. Very likely is the scenario that the agreement will not be before the 1st of January,” said Ulyukayev.
Earlier, Russia announced the imposition of economic sanctions against “Ukraine” if the agreement on free trade zone between “Ukraine” and the EU will be implemented as planned.
The agreement will be valid from the 1st of January, but it will enter into force after carrying out in the Netherlands of the referendum on the Association agreement between Kiev and Brussels.
