Posted on 11/30/2005 4:59:36 PM PST by REactor
The European Union will inform Ukraine on Thursday of its intention to grant the country market economy status.
At a summit in Kiev, EU leaders will also back Ukraine's membership of the World Trade Organization and discuss plans for a EU-Ukraine free trade area.
They will also sign deals on energy co-operation and on the Galileo satellite navigation system.
The summit will come a day after the launch of an EU mission to monitor Ukraine's border with Moldova.
The summit is the first between the EU and Ukraine since the Orange Revolution a year ago, which brought the pro-Western President Viktor Yushchenko to power.
The president of the European Commission, Jose Manuel Barroso, said on Wednesday that Ukraine would be granted market economy status as soon as some remaining procedures had been completed.
The move would strengthen Ukraine's ability to defend itself against allegations of illegally dumping goods on the European market and could further boost trade with the bloc, which has already overtaken Russia as the country's main trading partner.
Energy integration
Mr Barroso said in his statement that the country had "come a very long way in a very short time".
"The next crucial step will be free and fair [parliamentary] elections next March," he said.
The memorandum of understanding on co-operation in the energy field, which is to be signed on Thursday, opens up the long-term prospect of integration of Ukraine's energy market - including electricity, oil, gas and coal - with the EU's.
Ukraine had hoped to join the World Trade Organization (WTO) this year, but its parliament has failed to pass all the necessary legislation.
Mr Barroso said the EU would encourage the government to address the remaining obstacles on the path to WTO membership, so that work could start on the creation of a free trade area.
Visa relaxation
In recent months, talks have begun on the relaxation of visa requirements for Ukrainians visiting the EU, and on an agreement under which Ukraine will take back illegal migrants crossing into the EU from its territory.
Ukraine no longer requires EU visitors to obtain visas.
Agreements have also been signed on the exchange of classified information and on Ukrainian participation in EU crisis management operations. Ukraine is already taking part in the EU's operations in Bosnia and Macedonia.
In October, Mr Barroso said Ukraine's future was "in Europe", and that the EU's door was open.
However, he said it was better for Ukraine to focus now on concrete steps to build a partnership rather than talking about what may or may not happen in years to come.
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