Ukraine speaker assures two Association requirements, EU expecting more

Volodymyr Rybak, the head of Ukraine’s parliament, said in a July 26 television interview that the parliament faces two remaining legislative requirements for signing the Ukraine-EU Association Agreement. They are a new law on state prosecution, which Rybak said has been drafted and sent for review to the Venice Commission, and reforms to election legislation. Both legislative initiatives should be ready by October at the latest, he said. “After many negotiations, I have no doubt that we will fulfill our obligations and an agreement between Ukraine and the EU will be signed at the end of November,” Rybak said.

On the other hand, EU diplomats have maintained their position that there are 11 requirements for signing the agreement, including legislation to eliminate selective justice, as demonstrated in the political persecution of former Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko, as well as establishing a permanent election code with amendments, among other needed reforms.

Zenon Zawada: Along with top government officials, Rybak is engaged in the ongoing, back-and-forth bargaining between the Ukrainian and EU governments, with the Ukrainian side trying to reduce as many requirements as possible for signing the Association Agreement. So far, the tactic has worked for the Yanukovych administration and the Party of Regions, which has succeeded in pushing back the May deadlines for approving legislation, much of which has yet to be fulfilled. Indeed instead of working on the critical legislation at the moment, most legislators have gone on vacation for the summer recess.

EU diplomats have indicated they can allow for the Ukrainian side to fulfill only three-quarters of requirements, yet the Ukrainians might get a deeper concession in that respect. If the Yanukovych administration arranges for Tymoshenko’s release for medical treatment, we expect the EU will make significant concessions on required legislation and implementation of reforms. However, EU leaders will require fulfillment of the agreed-upon requirements (out of a list of 11) before Tymoshenko is released, which would therefore occur no earlier than November.