RRI Live!

Listen to Radio Romania International Live

Ukraine Signs the Association Agreement with the EU

The European Parliament, concurrently with the Parliament in Kiev, on Tuesday ratified the EU-Ukraine Association Agreement.

Ukraine Signs the Association Agreement with the EU
Ukraine Signs the Association Agreement with the EU

, 17.09.2014, 13:34

Romania hails the EU — Ukraine association agreement ratified on Tuesday by the Parliament of Ukraine and the European Parliament. The signature of this document, which aims to strengthen economic and political relations between the parties, was intended to have special significance. On the one hand, it event was held concurrently in Kiev and Strasbourg. On the other hand, as the Romanian foreign ministry has stressed, it is a symbol of Kiev’s progress on its European path, towards a better future, in dignity and prosperity.



Romania also reiterated its firm support for the pro-European choice expressed freely by the Ukrainian people, and expressed its hope that the agreement will be ratified by all the 28 EU member states. In fact, on July 3rd, Romania was the first EU member country to ratify the document, and also another two such documents, signed with the Republic of Moldova and Georgia. So far, the agreement has been ratified by 6 countries. “The unanimous vote in the Parliament in Kiev marks a first step towards Ukraine’s EU accession,” said the pro-European President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko. In turn, PM Arseniy Yatsenyuk described it as a choice of civilization.



In Strasburg, beyond the enthusiasm of the moment, some European politicians expressed concerns for the delay in the implementation of key provisions in the free trade agreement. They will not take effect on November 1st, as previously scheduled, but at the end of next year. The European Commission says the delay will help protect the Ukrainian economy, currently quite fragile, but many see it as a concession to Russia, which is rather displeased to see one of its former satellites exiting its orbit. Moscow has actually announced its intention to strengthen its military presence in Crimea, which it annexed in March. Russia’s explanation for this was the organization of a multi-national military exercise west of Ukraine, and on the other hand the worsening crisis in the east of that country, struggling with the pro-Russian rebellion.



In an attempt to put an end to the conflict, Kiev has granted more autonomy to the Russian-speaking regions in the east, announced local elections there in winter and an amnesty of the rebels, with some exceptions. According to the Ukrainian presidency, these decisions will hopefully pave the way for decentralization, while also guaranteeing the sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity of Ukraine.

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte (Source: NATO)
Today in the News Tuesday, 05 November 2024

NATO must stay united

NATO will work with the winner of the US elections, whoever that person may be and will do its best to stay united, NATO secretary general Mark Rutte...

NATO must stay united
Maia Sandu (Photo: presedinte.md)
Today in the News Monday, 04 November 2024

Moldova stays on path to Europe

Moldova’s pro-European president Maia Sandu won a new  4-year term in Sunday’s second round run-off, with over 55% of the votes cast in the...

Moldova stays on path to Europe
The head of the Permanent Electoral Authority (AEP), Toni Grebla
Today in the News Monday, 04 November 2024

Election campaigns in Romania

    The campaign for the general election in Romania started last week, at midnight on Thursday, and will end on 30 November. During this...

Election campaigns in Romania
November 1 - National Radio Day
Today in the News Friday, 01 November 2024

Radio Romania 96

Radio Romania has celebrated 96 years since it first entered the listeners houses from Romania and abroad. On November 1 1928 the Romanians were able...

Radio Romania 96
Today in the News Thursday, 31 October 2024

Romanians’ concerns

Romanians and Austrians are the most satisfied with their lives among the inhabitants of Central and Eastern Europe, but the former are significantly...

Romanians’ concerns
Today in the News Thursday, 31 October 2024

Republic of Moldova, crucial final

On November 3, the citizens of the Republic of Moldova have to choose, for the position of head of state, between the pro-European Maia Sandu, the...

Republic of Moldova, crucial final
Today in the News Wednesday, 30 October 2024

Drones, a security issue

The Romanian Ministry of National Defense has placed under decisional transparency a bill that improves airspace security measures. The bill, which...

Drones, a security issue
Today in the News Wednesday, 30 October 2024

The Fugitive Law is constitutional

The Constitutional Court of Romania (CCR) has rejected the referral of the High Court of Cassation and Justice (ICCJ) in relation to the so-called...

The Fugitive Law is constitutional

Partners

Muzeul Național al Țăranului Român Muzeul Național al Țăranului Român
Liga Studentilor Romani din Strainatate - LSRS Liga Studentilor Romani din Strainatate - LSRS
Modernism | The Leading Romanian Art Magazine Online Modernism | The Leading Romanian Art Magazine Online
Institului European din România Institului European din România
Institutul Francez din România – Bucureşti Institutul Francez din România – Bucureşti
Muzeul Național de Artă al României Muzeul Național de Artă al României
Le petit Journal Le petit Journal
Radio Prague International Radio Prague International
Muzeul Național de Istorie a României Muzeul Național de Istorie a României
ARCUB ARCUB
Radio Canada International Radio Canada International
Muzeul Național al Satului „Dimitrie Gusti” Muzeul Național al Satului „Dimitrie Gusti”
SWI swissinfo.ch SWI swissinfo.ch
UBB Radio ONLINE UBB Radio ONLINE
Strona główna - English Section - polskieradio.pl Strona główna - English Section - polskieradio.pl
creart - Centrul de Creație Artă și Tradiție al Municipiului Bucuresti creart - Centrul de Creație Artă și Tradiție al Municipiului Bucuresti
italradio italradio
Institutul Confucius Institutul Confucius
BUCPRESS - știri din Cernăuți BUCPRESS - știri din Cernăuți

Affiliates

Euranet Plus Euranet Plus
AIB | the trade association for international broadcasters AIB | the trade association for international broadcasters
Digital Radio Mondiale Digital Radio Mondiale
News and current affairs from Germany and around the world News and current affairs from Germany and around the world
Comunità radiotelevisiva italofona Comunità radiotelevisiva italofona

Providers

RADIOCOM RADIOCOM
Zeno Media - The Everything Audio Company Zeno Media - The Everything Audio Company