The Association Agreement, which was signed between the European Union and Ukraine in 2014, opened a big discussion about new challenges in Europe. Many European countries signed similar Agreements and became very quickly therafter full members of the EU. Nowadays there are a lot of opinions and myths about what exactly the Ukrainian Association is, and, in general, where it should bring Ukraine and Europe.
This research paper explores the objectives pursued by the EU and Ukraine by the time they signed the Agreement. It provides a full analysis and interpretation of its content and describes how Ukrainian attempt to get closer to the European Union changed the geo-political situation in Europe. This paper is important as it will cast in light the background of the present tragical events in Ukraine and will provide deeper knowledge about the situation.
The main hypotheses of this work are as follows:
1. The Association Agreement between Ukraine and the EU does not give any guarantees for the accession to the EU and could only be seen as the basis of a prospective future membership.
2. The access to the European integration of Ukraine in the EaP is precluded because of inflexible and “naive” policy of the EU. The ENP has failed and needs to be reconsidered.
3. Russian permanent intervention in the policy decision-making of Ukraine slowdowns its integration towards Western Europe.
The paper will be a mixture of description and “data followed by analysis”, going gradually more in depth from the negotiation process to the conclusion of the AA between Ukraine and the EU. To make the argument easy to follow, chronological analysis will be used in dealing with the interval of 2007-2015 (from the beginning of negotiations to the implementation process of the AA).
Table of Contents
1. European neighborhood policy
1.1 The Eastern Partnership: politics of inclusion
1.2 Shortcomings of the Eastern Partnership
2. Ukraine within the Eastern Partnership
2.1 History of Ukraine-European Union relations
2.2 Ukraine in the Eastern Partnership
2.3 Foreign policy of Ukraine
3. The Association Agreement as a political instrument for relations between the EU and third parties
3.1 The Association Agreement between Ukraine and the EU
3.2 The political part of the EU Association Agreement with Ukraine
4. The Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area and Visa Liberalisation
4.1 The Formation of a Free Trade Area as a key element of the new Association Agreement
4.2 Increasing Investment in the DCFTA
4.3 The liberalization of the visa-regime between Ukraine and the EU
4.4 Conclusion I
5. Challenges in Europe after signing the Association Agreement
5.1 Ukraine between the European Union and Russia
5.2 Signing of the EU-Ukraine Association Agreement under Russian pressure
6. Future development of the Ukraine’s European integration
6.1 Status quo of the EU-Ukraine Association Agreement
6.2 Implementation of the Association Agreement - Conclusion II
Objectives and Core Themes
This thesis examines the development of the EU-Ukraine Association Agreement, analyzing how the integration process, specifically through political and economic cooperation, has altered the geopolitical landscape in Eastern Europe and how the EU and Ukraine navigate the challenges posed by Russian foreign policy.
- The role of the European Neighborhood Policy and Eastern Partnership in EU integration strategies.
- Political and economic implications of the Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area (DCFTA).
- Challenges to Ukrainian integration regarding domestic reforms and internal political stability.
- Geopolitical tensions resulting from the interaction between EU integration, Russian interests, and the conflict in Ukraine.
Excerpt from the Book
The stages and features of negotiations between Ukraine and the EU of the Association Agreement
The history of previous relations between the EU and Ukraine were described in the chapter 2. It was mentioned that the main pre-conditions for a new base agreement negotiations were:
• The creation of a common border between Ukraine and the four EU countries, as a result of the EU Eastern expansion;
• Forming of a new concept of European security policy, that includes stabilization of the geographical neighborhood of the EU;
• Changes of the political situation in Ukraine, as a result of the Orange Revolution in Kyiv in 2004-2005;
• Imperfection of previous European Neighborhood policy.
First step towards new Agreement was a creation of institutional basis. In January 2007 the European Council by advice of the European Commission ratified the beginning of negotiations with Ukraine in order to prepare the new “comprehensive, ambitious and innovative basic treaty”. At the Paris Summit in 2008 the leaders of the EU and Ukraine agreed that the Association Agreement, as the first such Agreement among Eastern Partnership countries, should be a successor of the expired Partnership and Cooperation Agreement and the Action Plan.
Summary of Chapters
1. European neighborhood policy: This chapter provides an overview of EU neighborhood strategies and the limitations of current policies (ENP/EaP) while examining the transition towards a "politics of inclusion."
2. Ukraine within the Eastern Partnership: This chapter outlines Ukraine's position within the EaP framework and analyzes the history and political orientation of Ukraine-EU relations.
3. The Association Agreement as a political instrument for relations between the EU and third parties: This chapter details the legal and political nature of Association Agreements and specifically analyzes the political components of the EU-Ukraine agreement.
4. The Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area and Visa Liberalisation: This chapter examines the economic components of the agreement, focusing on market access, institutional harmonization, and visa-free dialogue.
5. Challenges in Europe after signing the Association Agreement: This chapter addresses the geopolitical impact of the agreement, specifically the conflict between Ukraine and Russia and the pressure exerted during the negotiation and signing phases.
6. Future development of the Ukraine’s European integration: This chapter evaluates the status quo of the agreement and discusses potential future scenarios for Ukraine's integration given the ongoing regional challenges.
Keywords
European Union, Ukraine, Association Agreement, Eastern Partnership, European Neighborhood Policy, DCFTA, Geopolitics, Russian-Ukrainian relations, Economic Integration, Political Association, Foreign Policy, Visa Liberalization, Reforms, Sovereignty, EU Membership
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the core focus of this Master Thesis?
The thesis analyzes the Association Agreement (AA) between the European Union and Ukraine, exploring its political and economic dimensions as a tool for European integration.
What are the primary thematic areas covered in the research?
The work covers the European Neighborhood Policy, the Eastern Partnership framework, the specifics of the Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area (DCFTA), and the geopolitical impact of these policies on Ukraine's relations with Russia.
What is the main research question of the study?
The study investigates the current stage of Ukraine's European integration, the objectives pursued by the parties, and how the AA influences both domestic political association and the broader geopolitical situation in Europe.
Which scientific methodology does the author employ?
The paper utilizes a qualitative "data followed by analysis" approach, combining a historical overview with a chronological analysis of the events between 2007 and 2015.
What does the main body of the work address?
The main body evaluates the institutional framework of the AA, the benefits and drawbacks of the DCFTA, the challenges of implementing European standards, and the external pressures from Russia.
Which keywords define the scope of the thesis?
The scope is defined by terms such as European Union, Association Agreement, Eastern Partnership, geopolitical relations, economic integration, and Ukraine's path towards EU standards.
How does the author categorize the "socio-cultural gap" between Ukraine and the EU?
The author identifies a gap stemming from cultural distinctions, the legacy of the Soviet past, and different attitudes toward norms, corruption, and the rule of law compared to Western European countries.
What role does the Russian Federation play in the integration process described?
Russia is portrayed as a significant external factor, exerting pressure via energy diplomacy, trade bans, and geopolitical rivalry to impede Ukraine's shift toward Western integration.
How does the thesis view the prospect of EU membership for Ukraine?
The author argues that while the AA does not provide explicit guarantees for membership, it serves as a critical basis for long-term integration and modernization toward membership criteria.
- Citar trabajo
- Yevgeniya Kozmenko (Autor), 2015, A new step to the European Integration. The Association Agreement between the EU and Ukraine, Múnich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/336676
