Ukraine and the EU

History of Relations

Ukraine is a neighboring country of the European Union (EU) and one of its candidate countries. In 2004, then-Ukrainian President Viktor Yushchenko stated that his country was seeking EU membership soon. On 9 September 2008, Ukraine and the EU reached an agreement for an association agreement in Paris. This agreement is not necessarily considered a first step towards EU accession.

Partnership and Cooperation

The official position of the European Commission is that “the EU seeks an increasingly close partnership with Ukraine aimed at gradual economic integration and deepening political cooperation.” Ukraine has been linked to the EU as a member of the Eastern Partnership since 2009 and through the Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area (DCFTA) since 2016.

Association Agreements

In 2014, Ukraine and the European Union signed an Association Agreement, replacing the previous Partnership and Cooperation Agreement between the European Communities and Ukraine. This agreement is a key component of Ukraine's association with the EU.

Candidate Status

On 28 June 2022, President Zelensky announced that Ukraine had been suspended from its candidate status due to concerns over corruption and judicial reform. However, in 2022, the country received the official status of a candidate country for accession to the European Union, marking a significant step towards EU membership.

Economic Relations

The European Union is an important economic partner for Ukraine. In 2015, the EU accounted for 34% of all Ukrainian exports and 41% of Ukrainian imports of goods.

Constitutional Provisions

In February 2019, the Verkhovna Rada legally enshrined in the Constitution of Ukraine the course for joining the European Union. The preamble of the Constitution enshrined the wording about the “European identity of the Ukrainian people and the irreversibility of the European and Euro-Atlantic course of Ukraine”, and in Article 102 the powers of the head of state were expanded: he became “the guarantor of the implementation of the strategic course of the state towards joining the EU.”

Representation

The European Union is officially represented in Ukraine by the European Union Delegation for Ukraine in Kiev.