EU Seals Association Agreements with Georgia, Moldova

Politics » BULGARIA IN EU | November 29, 2013, Friday // 10:43
Bulgaria: EU Seals Association Agreements with Georgia, Moldova German Chancellor Angela Merkel (2-L) and Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych (2-R) together with their respective delegations attend a meeting on the sidelines of the 3rd Eastern Partnership Summit in Vilnius, Lithuania, 29 November 2013. Photo by EPA/

The European Union initialled association agreements with Georgia and Moldova on Friday, failing to sign the landmark deal with Ukraine.

Kyiv confirmed its refusal to ink the landmark political and trade deal with the EU, acting in line with plans voiced earlier this week under pressure from Russia.

The association agreements with Georgia and Moldova were initialed on the second day of an EU Eastern Partnership summit in Vilnius, putting an end to the talks before the conclusive signing in the coming months, according to reports of international media outlets, as cited by the BGNES news agency.

Lithuanian President Dalia Grybauskaite said the status quo had not changed and that the Ukrainian President was "not ready to go further on integration with the European Union at this stage."

She went on to accuse Ukrainian leaders of choosing a path which went nowhere.

Catherine Ashton, the EU's foreign policy chief, was optimistic that the intensive talks with Ukraine had achieved progress, adding that the door was still open.

She noted that Ukraine and the EU could still advance toward signing the accord in the coming months.

European Council President Herman Van Rompuy praised the "courage and political will" of the governments of Georgia and Moldova and reiterated the EU's "unwavering commitment' to their territorial integrity.

He expressed hopes that the agreements initialed with Georgia and Moldova Friday would be completed and enacted next year., putting an end to the talks before the conclusive signing in the coming months, according to reports of international media outlets, as cited by the BGNES news agency.

Lithuanian President Dalia Grybauskaite said the status quo had not changed and that the Ukrainian President was "not ready to go further on integration with the European Union at this stage."

She went on to accuse Ukrainian leaders of choosing a path which went nowhere.

Catherine Ashton, the EU's foreign policy chief, was optimistic that the intensive talks with Ukraine had achieved progress, adding that the door was still open.

She noted that Ukraine and the EU could still advance toward signing the accord in the coming months.

European Council President Herman Van Rompuy praised the "courage and political will" of the governments of Georgia and Moldova and reiterated the EU's "unwavering commitment' to their territorial integrity.

He expressed hopes that the agreements initialed with Georgia and Moldova Friday would be completed and enacted next year.

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Tags: Viktor Yanukovich, Catherine Ashton, European Council, Herman van Rompuy, Association Agreement, Ukraine, Eastern Partnership Summit, moldova

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