The European Union has signed separate Association Agreements with Ukraine, Moldova and Georgia, which President of the European Council Herman Van Rompuy called “milestones in the history of our relations and for Europe as a whole.”
“In Kiev and elsewhere, people gave their lives for this closer link to the European Union. We will not forget them,” Van Rompuy said at the signing ceremony in Brussels.
The accords were signed by President Petro Poroshenko of Ukraine, Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili of Georgia and Prime Minister Iurie Leanca of the Republic of Moldova.
“The European Union stands by your side today more than ever before. You have our support and solidarity, and our recognition of your territorial integrity,” Van Rompuy said.
He added that “there is nothing in these agreements, nor in the European Union’s approach, that might harm Russia in any way. The European Union stands ready to engage with Russia as much as need be, to dispel misunderstandings where they may exist and to chart together a safer future for our common continent.”
President of European Commission Jose Manuel Barroso echoed his words, saying this was “indeed a historic day: for the three countries themselves, for the European Union and for the whole of Europe.”
“These Association Agreements are the logical and natural outcome of a path started more than 20 years ago when these countries became independent sovereign states.
“These Agreements are also a landmark in our Eastern Partnership policy that set the objective of achieving political association and economic integration with our partners, who were willing and ready to do so,” Barroso said.
The Agreements “are the most ambitious the European Union has entered into so far,” he said.
“They will enable our partner countries to drive reforms, to consolidate the rule of law and good governance; and to give an impetus to economic growth in the region by granting access to the world’s largest internal market and by encouraging cooperation across a wide range of sectors,” Barroso added.
