What are the main institutions that decide on, influence, of EU foreign policy vis-a vis Ukraine?

April 2, 2021

Ukraine is a priority partner for the European Union (EU). The Association Agreement (AA)[1], including its Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area (DCFTA) [2], signed in 2014, is the main tool for rapprochement between Ukraine and the EU, developing political ties and economic links. Since 2014, Ukraine has been implementing a reform program aimed at accelerating economic growth and improving the living standards of its citizens.

There are several main institutions that influence EU policy towards Ukraine - the European Council, the European Commission, the Council of the European Union and the European Parliament[3].

The European Council is one of the seven main institutions of the European Union, its main political body. The European Council formulates the priorities and the general policy of the European Union vis-a vis Ukraine. So, for instance, after several months of discussion, members of the European Council on February 28, 2017 agreed to abolish visas for Ukrainians[4]. This became an important step in the process of convergence between the EU and Ukraine.

Other important institutions are the Council of the European Union and the European Parliament - the legislative bodies of the European Union.

The European Parliament influences the content of international agreements concluded by the European Union. The tools for this are parliamentary resolutions. For example, MEPs adopted a resolution on Ukraine on February 11, 2021, in which they called on the European External Action Service to work more actively to resolve the conflict in Donbass[5].

The goals and objectives of the foreign policy are determined by the Council of the European Union, and the implementation is monitored by the EU Foreign Affairs Council, which meets at least once a month. The Council of the EU regulates the EU's foreign policy towards Ukraine within the framework established by the European Council. The Council of the EU concludes treaties between the EU and other countries and organizations and any legal act must be approved by it. So, it was the EU Council that approved the association agreement with Ukraine in 2017, and also endorsed the decision on a visa-free regime for Ukrainians.

The European Commission is the main executive body of the European Union, which has the “right of initiative”. The Institute offers specific political programs towards Ukraine. On November 22, 1996, the European Commission presented the Action Plan for Ukraine to the European Parliament[6]. The European Commission proposed to continue supporting democratic transformations in Ukraine and to develop partnerships with it.

To conclude, it can be noted that the main institutions that influence the EU foreign policy vis-a vis Ukraine are the European Council, the European Commission, the EU Council and the European Parliament. It is the coordination policy of these supranational bodies of the European Union that ensures the organization's common foreign policy towards Ukraine.

References

  • Action Plan for Ukraine, Communication from the Commission to the Council, Brussels, 1996. Available at: https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/PDF/?uri=CELEX:51996DC0593&rid=9 (accessed 17 March 2021).
  • Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Areas (DCFTA) of the EU-Ukraine Association Agreement, 2016. Available at: http://trade.ec.europa.eu/doclib/press/index.cfm?id=1425 (accessed 17 March 2021).
  • European Parliament resolution of 11 February 2021 on the implementation of the EU Association Agreement with Ukraine (2019/2202(INI)). Available at: https://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/TA-9-2021-0050_EN.html (accessed 14 March 2021).
  • Full text of the EU-Ukraine Association Agreement, 2014. Available at: http://publications.europa.eu/resource/cellar/4589a50c-e6e3-11e3-8cd401aa75ed71a1.0006.03/DOC_1 (accessed 27 March 2021).
  • “How the European Union works”, European Commission Directorate-General for Press and Communication, Brussels, 2005. Available at: https://www.lu.lv/materiali/biblioteka/es/pilnieteksti/dazada/How%20the%20European%20Union%20works%20-%20Your%20guide%20to%20the%20EU%20institutions.pdf (accessed 22 March 2021).
  • MEPs and Council negotiators agree to waive EU visa requirement for Ukrainians, European Parliament News, 2017. Available at: https://www.europarl.europa.eu/news/en/press-room/20170228IPR64271/meps-and-council-negotiators-agree-to-waive-eu-visa-requirement-for-ukrainians (accessed 17 March 2021).

[1] Full text of the EU-Ukraine Association Agreement, 2014. Available at: http://publications.europa.eu/resource/cellar/4589a50c-e6e3-11e3-8cd401aa75ed71a1.0006.03/DOC_1 (accessed 17 March 2021).

[2] Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Areas (DCFTA) of the EU-Ukraine Association Agreement, 2016. Available at: http://trade.ec.europa.eu/doclib/press/index.cfm?id=1425 (accessed 17 March 2021).

[3] “How the European Union works”, European Commission Directorate-General for Press and Communication, Brussels, 2005. Available at: https://www.lu.lv/materiali/biblioteka/es/pilnieteksti/dazada/How%20the%20European%20Union%20works%20-%20Your%20guide%20to%20the%20EU%20institutions.pdf (accessed 22 March 2021).

[4] MEPs and Council negotiators agree to waive EU visa requirement for Ukrainians, European Parliament News, 2017. Available at: https://www.europarl.europa.eu/news/en/press-room/20170228IPR64271/meps-and-council-negotiators-agree-to-waive-eu-visa-requirement-for-ukrainians (accessed 17 March 2021).

[5] European Parliament resolution of 11 February 2021 on the implementation of the EU Association Agreement with Ukraine (2019/2202(INI)). Available at: https://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/TA-9-2021-0050_EN.html (accessed 14 March 2021).

[6] Action Plan for Ukraine, Communication from the Commission to the Council, Brussels, 1996. Available at: https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/PDF/?uri=CELEX:51996DC0593&rid=9 (accessed 17 March 2021).