European Parliament recommends EU Council sign association agreement by yearend

The European Parliament is recommending the European Council sign an association agreement with Ukraine by the end of this year and ratify it by the end of 2012, according to a draft report cited by Interfax yesterday. Brad Wells: The recommendation is another positive signal of the EU’s intentions to swiftly conclude this key agreement. As we have written before, Ukraine has high expectations of concluding an association agreement and free trade pact with the European Union at the annual EU-Ukraine summit in Kyiv this December, particular since Ukraine’s biggest EU champion, Poland, is now holding the presidency of the council of the EU until January 1. We view conclusion of these agreements this winter as likely, but expect a lengthy-adoption scenario by EU members over concern for Ukraine’s democratic record – with true benefits of the agreements for Ukraine delayed for the mid-term (see more in our politics flash note from August 9).