A roadmap from the EU for the new Cabinet

All Ukrainian mass media have spread a warning message of the European Commission. It said that simultaneous work on the Customs Union and the Association Agreement is impossible. “Ukraine has to choose the rules it wants to align its legislation with: whether it would be the ones used by the European Union or the ones of the Customs Union,” Interfax Ukraine quotes the statement made by the European Commission. It was also said that “even partial integration with the Customs Union, which will have an effect on Ukrainian tariffs or trade norms, will be problematic.”

It should be noted that this statement appeared on the day after the new Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine was formed. The representative of the Party of Regions Leonid Kozhara became the new foreign minister. Let us remind that on December 18, when he still was a member of parliament, he said that Ukraine cannot be a member of the Customs Union, since it would contradict regulations of the legislation on European integration, “but if the Customs Union is interested, Ukraine can partially join some of its branch documents, which would favor both Ukraine and the Customs Union.” “This is not a membership, but mere joining some legislative acts and agreements,” UNIAN quotes Kozhara.

The Day tried to receive a commentary on the appearance of this European Commission’s statement from the new minister. However, Kozhara did not respond to either messages on his Facebook page, or emails, or phone calls. So, the paper addressed the member of the European Parliament Marek Siwiec, who is acquainted with the state of Ukrainian foreign affairs, with a request to comment upon the new foreign minister appointment and the appearance of the European Commission’s statement.

“First of all, I think that Ukraine finally received a new Cabinet and I congratulate Leonid Kozhara upon the appointment to the post of the minister of foreign affairs. However, this is a Cabinet of steadiness. Azarov is known well now, he has made some progress, but he has got problems as well. But since he is the Party of Regions’ leader, it gives him grounds for holding the post of the prime minister. I do not want to comment upon Hryshchenko, because this is something new for Ukrainian government. But now is the time of Catholic and Orthodox Christmas, the New Year time, and we would like to welcome the new Ukrainian ministers in Brussels and discuss the further details of European integration.”

Why do you think the European Commission’s statement about the incompatibility of Ukraine’s membership in the Customs Union and European integration appeared right after the new Cabinet was formed?

“For me, this is very obvious. The unification of customs regime with the EU is a part of the agreement on deep and comprehensive free trade area, concluded between Brussels and Kyiv. And if Ukraine wants to adapt to European legislation, it is quite obvious that this is impossible to achieve with different laws, rules, and regulations, offered by Russia, Kazakhstan, and Belarus within the framework of the Customs Union. That is why I think that the European Commission has not revealed something shockingly new in its statement.

“And concerning the timing of the statement’s appearance, I am not a psychic to read symbols and signals. In my opinion, it is the most important for the new Ukrainian government to come back to contacts, negotiations, and the ‘roadmap’ that was offered a week ago at the session of the European Council on Foreign Relations. And then, we all will be able to think about Ukraine’s European future.”

What can you say about Kozhara’s potential on the post of the foreign minister?

“Leonid Kozhara is a rather skilled and very experienced diplomat and politician. He has been an ambassador before, and now he is a politician who does a lot of positive things. He has good relations with the European Parliament and other European institutions. I think that Kozhara is very progressive and active person. Personally, I want to sincerely congratulate him upon this appointment. I can imagine that his profile will have a lot of positive energy towards Ukraine and its future.”

But some experts say that Kozhara’s appointment to this post is the signal of Ukraine’s movement towards the Customs Union. Do you think this is true?

“Of course, not. Kozhara’s position is remarkable in a way; he was never biased against any approach. But it is clear that a lot depends on the new Cabinet in general and on the new president. I am sure that Kozhara’s personal views will not interfere with geopolitics.”