European Commission to sit out Ukraine Euro-2012 matches

European Commissioners lined up behind President Jose Manuel Barroso in boycotting Euro-2012 matches in Ukraine over the treatment of jailed former Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko. The 27-member European Commission did not make a formal declaration, but agreed to honor Barroso’s call to sit out the games in Ukraine. An EU official told the Financial Times they still planned to attend matches that take place in co-host Poland. Europe has ratched up its pressure on the Yanukovych government in recent days, calling for changes in its approach to the rule of law, and persecution and treatment of political prisoners. Five EU country presidents announced earlier this week that they planned to boycott a Central European summit in Yalta next week.

Brad Wells: So far, the EU’s message seems to be having little effect – Ukraine’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs responded last night with a strongly worded message saying that it viewed the EU’s stance as “destructive attempts to politicize sporting events.” We believe the current impasse in EU-Ukraine relations will last for some time as the Ukrainian government has yet to indicate it is even considering softening its position on Tymoshenko. Divisions among EU politicians, notably Poland’s support for Ukraine, though will help keep bilateral dialogue open, but the long-awaited signing of a landmark Association Agreement (and embedded Deep & Comprehensive Free Trade Agreement) looks off the table indefinitely.