EU-Ukraine Summit to kick off in Brussels on Monday

The annual EU-Ukraine Summit will take place in Brussels next Monday (November 22). Brad Wells: Tough stances on both sides mean a free trade agreement is off the table for now, despite years of difficult negotiations. The most contentious outstanding points are reportedly Ukraine’s slow adoption of EU sanitary norms, the EU’s reluctance to open energy & transportation markets, Ukraine seeking to delay or stagger the elimination of duties on imported cars and an increase in grain export quotas. The Ukrainian delegation would like to lock up an action plan for the implementation of visa-free travel of Ukrainians to the EU, another major issue in recent years. Most observers will be watching closely the level to which the EU congratulates Ukraine on political and economic stability while balancing warnings against perceived democratic backsliding following flawed local elections on October 31, crackdowns on the political opposition and media and respect for the rule of law.