EUROPEAN COUNCIL:EU-Ukraine summit, Kyiv, Ukraine, 12 October 2021

 

Meetings Monday 11 October 2021

● European Council   11/10/2021 17:01 | MEETING | EU-Ukraine summit, Kyiv, Ukraine, 12 October 2021   Background brief - EU-Ukraine summit, Kyiv, Ukraine, 12/10/2021 International SummitEU-Ukraine summit, Kyiv, Ukraine, 12 October 2021 Agenda highlights The 23rd summit between the European Union and Ukraine will be held in Kyiv on 12 October 2021. The EU will be represented by Charles Michel, President of the European Council, and Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission. Ukraine will be represented by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. The summit will reaffirm the continued commitment to strengthening the political association and economic integration of Ukraine with the European Union, and the European Union's unwavering support to Ukraine's independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity. More specifically, discussions will centre around: the results achieved in the implementation of the EU-Ukraine association agreement and its deep and comprehensive free trade area (AA/DCFTA), as well as the next steps further enhancement of economic integration (in the AA/DCFTA context) in different areas including climate, energy, telecommunications, connectivity, aviation, education and research diplomatic efforts aimed at restoring Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity further strengthening of cooperation in countering hybrid threats and tackling disinformation cooperation in tackling the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic the Eastern Partnership summit to be held in Brussels on 15 December Background EU relations with Ukraine EU-Ukraine relations are based on an association agreement (AA) which entered into force in 2017. The economic part of the AA is a deep and comprehensive free trade area (DCFTA). EU relations with Ukraine (background information) European Union delegation in Ukraine website On 23 August, President Michel attended the first International Crimean Platform Summit. The International Crimean Platform is an initiative by President Zelenskyy to revert the illegal annexation of Crimea by Russia through diplomatic means. Speech by President Charles Michel at the inaugural session of the International Crimea Platform Summit COVID-19 assistance To help tackle the socio-economic impact of the pandemic, EU neighbouring partners received specific COVID-19-related macro-financial assistance of €3 billion. The single biggest beneficiary has been Ukraine, with an allocation of €1.2 billion. In addition, the EU provided a €190 million support package to Ukraine. EU's international solidarity during the COVID-19 pandemic (background information) Ukraine is also among the non-EU countries and territories connected to the EU Digital COVID Certificate. This means that a Ukrainian COVID certificate is accepted in the EU under the same conditions as the EU Digital COVID Certificate. Likewise, the EU Digital COVID Certificate is accepted by Ukraine. EU Digital Certificate: how it works (background information) Infographic - EU Digital Certificate EU Digital COVID Certificate (European Commission) Visa liberalisation Since 2017, Ukrainian citizens no longer require a visa for short stays in the Schengen area. Infographic - Visa facilitation and liberalisation EU sanctions against Russia Since March 2014, the EU has progressively imposed restrictive measures against Russia. The measures were adopted in response to the illegal annexation of Crimea and the deliberate destabilisation of Ukraine. Timeline - EU restrictive measures in response to the crisis in Ukraine In the conclusions of the European Council in June, EU leaders reaffirmed that full implementation of the Minsk agreements remains the key condition for any substantial change in the EU’s stance in its relations with Russia. European Council, 24-25 June 2021 Previous summit The previous EU-Ukraine summit was held on 6 October 2020 in Brussels. EU-Ukraine summit, Brussels, 6 October 2020 Meeting information Kyiv 12 October 2021 Preparatory documents Background brief