also in this issue:

MEPs ask EU leaders to do all to sign AA with Ukraine

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Ukraine signs association with CERN

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Days of Ukraine Festival comes to London

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Ukraine Digest, Thursday, October 11, 2013

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european integration

MEPs, who are members of an informal group of Ukraines friends, have called on the heads of the institutions of the European Union to do everything they can to sign the EU-Ukraine Association Agreement at a summit in Vilnius this November. This is stated in an open letter by 20 MEPs to European Parliament President Martin Schulz, European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso, European Council President Herman Van Rompuy, European Commissioner for Enlargement and European Neighborhood Policy Ste-

fan Fule, and EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Catherine Ashton, the Ukrinform reported on October 10. We appeal to you to do everything possible to make the Association Agreement and DCFTA between the European Union and Ukraine signed during the Eastern Partnership Summit in Vilnius, which will be held on November 28-29, 2013, reads the letter. The MEPs noted, in particular, significant changes towards democratization of Ukraines political system, the

strengthening of the rule of law in the country, an active role of Ukraine on the way to the Association Agreement and DCFTA, the aspiration of Ukrainian people to integrate into the European community, as well as long-term cultural and economic ties between Ukraine and the European Union. They also pointed to the necessity of cooperation in energy and transport sectors, the importance of Ukraine as a partner and friend for the European Union, the geostrategic location of the country, and the fact that Ukraine has a big potential as an EU ally.

Ukraines European integration should become irreversible

The EU should seize the moment and make Ukraines European integration irreversible. Such statement was released by Linas Linkevicius, pictured, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Lithuania presiding member of the Council of the European Union, as reported by the Deutsche Welle. Referring to the prospect of signing EU-Ukraine Association Agreement (AA), he expressed hope that although time was short and there were still some outstanding obligations, it still would be possible to sign it. During the interview Minister Linkevicius reassured that stopping the process is not an option because time would be lost forever. We must seize the moment. We must, figuratively speaking, put the train back on track, and choose a direction in which to move this train. That is what we plan to do at the summit in Vilnius, said the minister. He also noted that the Joint Declaration of Heads of State was currently being prepared to be adopted at the summit. He also noted that most of the provisions of the Association Agreement with Ukraine may take effect before the ratification. We hope that after the signing the Association Agreement we can immediately start executing it without waiting for ratification. Ratification by all EU countries it is a long process. () We expect that the provisional application shall be extended to 90 percent of the provisions on free trade and about 70 percent of the political provisions of the agreement, he concluded.

German government removing last obstacles to Ukraines EU integration

THE GERMAN government is taking steps to eliminate obstacles on the road of Ukraines European integration. German FM Guido Westerwelle, pictured, said this at a meeting with Ukraines President Viktor Yanukovych in Kyiv on October 10. I want to assure you that the German Federal Government is working to eliminate the last barriers on the road to the summit in Vilnius, he said. Yanukovych, in turn, assured Westerwelle that the Ukrainian parliament is conducting constructive work on the adoption of the necessary bills, which are on the list of [European Commissioner for Enlargement and European Neighborhood Policy Stefan] Fule.
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We have great potential, and combining it with European will greatly enhance it. Not only we need Europe, but we are needed by the European Union. We have a common interest and therefore the historical opportunity that is both the European Union and Ukraine should use in Vilnius on November 28.

Ukraine and Europe need each other

Mykola Azarov, Ukraines PM

Wide opportunities of DCFTA for European businesses in Ukraine

FIRST of all for foreign investors Ukraine is a huge market outlet with the sheer quantity of its consumers nearly 45.5 million people. In addition, Ukraine is important for its location, particularly the proximity to both the European Union and Russia. The later makes the country ideal for exporting to Europe, Russia and Asia. The majority of states from the 28-member bloc are interested in gaining access to Ukraine as it is an energy transit state. The security of EU natural gas supply is reliant on Ukraine as 84% of Russian gas supplies to Europe transit through the Ukrainian gas transportation system. In addition, Ukraine may act as an exporter of skilled and cheap workforce in the European markets, as it has 22 million of economically active population More on wide business opportunities read here.

EU-Ukraine free trade area explained

THE BRITISH international trade policy expert, Mark Hellyer spelled out the benefits that EUUkraine Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area (DCFTA) would bring for Ukraine. In addition he emphisized the next steps that the Ukrainian government and business should take in order to ensure its smooth implementation. Outlining the main benefits of the DCFTA, Hellyer pointed out that it would allow Ukrainian business to trade more easily with the EU. In particular, it would: give better access to a market of over 500 mln consumers; help improve the business climate in Ukraine, creating more certainty and transparency and therefore reducing business risk; help increase efficiency and competitiveness of Ukraines industries; provide Ukraine with
Ukrainian business will trade more on EU markets and the consumer will benefit from greater choice, cheaper and higher quality products

Mark Hellyer, British international trade policy expert

cheaper and safer products both imported and locally produced. The British expert also spoke about some specific provisions and implications of the DCFTA for Ukraine, eg: in the first year of implementation, Ukrainian exporters will benefit from the removal of 97% of duties on Ukrainian goods and reduction of the average tariff on Ukrainian exports from 7.6% to 0.5%, while Ukraine will reduce its average tariff for European exporters from 5.0% to 2.4%; products certified in Ukraine will be treated equally on the EU market. Ukrainian producers will have 7 years to gradually adopt EU standards and invest in modernisation Ukrainian business will be able to bid for $2.5 trillion worth of EU public procurement contracts on a par with other EU companies after it adopts EU rules.

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Ukraine signs association with CERN

Ukraine has been a strong participant in LHC (Large Hadron Collider - ed.) experiments and computing over recent years. Welcoming a new member of a family is always an emotional moment and Im really delighted to see Ukraine on the way to Associate Membership.

science

Agreement with CERN is scientific integration of Ukraine to the European Union

On October 3, 2013, CERN Director General Rolf-Dieter Heuer and Ukrainian Deputy Prime Minister Kostiantyn Rolf-Dieter Heuer, Hryshchenko signed at CERN CERN Director headquarters in Geneva an General agreement between Ukraine and the European OrganizaAn agreement with CERN is a tion for Nuclear Research on standard of the European integranting Ukraine the status gration of Ukraine as a state of an associate member at with sufficient scientific, CERN. unique technological and The Associate Memberpowerful industrial potenship of Ukraine will open a tial. The role of Ukrainian new era of cooperation that science was recognized due will strengthen the longto your contribution to Euterm partnership between ropean science, in particular, CERN and the Ukrainian cooperation as part of the Large scientific community. AssoHadron Collider project. The ciate Membership will allow agreement signed by the sides Mykola Azarov, Ukraine to participate in the would help Ukraine receive orders Ukrainian Prime governance of CERN, through from CERN for the production of Minister attending the meetings of the high-tech equipment. In addition, CERN Council. domestic scientists will be able to promote their own and Moreover, it will allow join the development of new technologies, as well as Ukrainian scientists to become participate in joint training and research programs. members of the CERN staff,

and to participate in CERNs training and career-development programmes. Finally, it will allow Ukrainian industry to bid for CERN contracts, thus opening up opportunities for industrial collaboration in areas of advanced technology. Ukraine has cooperated with CERN since 1993. Ukraine and CERN signed a cooperation agreement in 1993, and a joint declaration in 2011, setting priorities in scientific-technical cooperation. Forty-seven Ukrainian scientists currently work at CERN. In reality, Ukraines relationship with CERN dates back much further, principally through CERNs cooperation with the Joint Institute of Nuclear Research (JINR) in Dubna, Russia, of which Ukraine is a member. CERN-JINR co-operation in the field of high-energy accelerators started in the early 1960s and ever since, the two institutions have formed a bridge between East and West that has made important contributions to the development of global, peaceful scientific cooperation.

Kostiantyn Hryshchenko, Ukrainian Deputy Prime Minister

Signing the CERN Associate Membership Agreement became an extremely important stage on the way of Ukraines European integration. The full involvement in the advanced European scientific projects and research conducted in CERN was set as a main priority in the field of international science and technology cooperation.

The signing of this agreement can be considered a scientific integration of Ukraine into the European Union. We could say that it is the first step for Ukraine to become an associate member of the EU. We have made a significant contribution to the development of European science. Ukrainian physicists are well known at CERN thanks to the successful participation in a number of areas, and in recent years - as part of the Large Hadron Collider. Ukraine has cooperated with the European Organization for Nuclear Research for 20 years, but the status of a member it is Volodymyr Semynozhenko, new opportunities and perspecthe Chairman of the State tives. Agency on Science, Innovation

and Information Technology

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culture

Days of Ukraine Festival

comes to London
he Days of Ukraine Festival will be celebrating Ukrainian culture in the heart of London this month. The three-day festival is being organised by charity The Firtash Foundation, with the support of Group DF, an international group of companies based in Ukraine. It will consist of a free concert and fair at Potters Field Park on 19 October. The area will be transformed into a stylised Ukrainian village providing opportunities for visitors to test out a number of traditional arts and crafts such as pottery and wreath making. Attendees will also be able to test out their culinary skills by creating traditional Ukrainian dishes including varenyky and borshch. Children will be able to make clay animal whistles, weave ponies out of straw and twine, bake birds from dough and paint eggs. Families will also be able to enjoy musical games presented by childrens folklore ensemble Raihorodok. A stage will host a series of Ukrainian folk and contemporary music groups including Vopli Vidopliasova, led by Oleh Skrypka and accompanied by Le Grand Orchestra, Astarta and Folknery, Krosna, and Kozak System and Taras Chubai, classics of Ukrainian rock. It is open from 1:30pm - 8pm on 19th October at Potters Field Park, London SE1 2AA.
Fashion show of leading Ukrainian designers Lilia Poustovit, Lilia Litkovskaya, Svitlana Bibi Bevza and the design duo KAMENSKA KONONOVA. UKRAINIAN FASHION SHOW

FESTIVAL LISTING
LITERATURE EVENING

18 October

From Shevchenko to Zabuzhko 6pm8pm London Library, St James Square Admission: apply for tickets via Facebook
UKRAINIAN CONTEMPORARY ARTISTS EXHIBITION AT THE SAATCHI GALLERY

8pm Saatchi Gallery Admission: apply for tickets via Facebook

UKRAINIAN CONCERT AND FAIR

19 October

From 18 October until 23 October Saatchi Gallery, Duke of Yorks HQ, Kings Road, London, SW3 4RY Admission: Apply via Facebook for tickets to this exclusive preview event on 18 October. Free to the public from 19 October

1:30pm-8pm Potters Field Park, London, SE1 2AA Admission: free Concert: Krosna band, Folknery band. Le Grand Orchestra dance class on stage, Astarta, Taras Chubay and Kozak System, Oleh Skrypka, Vopli Vidoplyasova and Le Grand Orchestra. For more information: twitter.com/UkraineDays facebook.com/ukrainedays instagram.com/ukrainedays www.ukraine-days.co.uk/en

For more information, please, contact Oksana Kyzyma, Press Secretary of the Embassy of Ukraine to the UK Issue #24, October 11, 2013

Tel.: 020 7727 6312 E-mail: press@ukremb.org.uk Address: 60 Holland Park, London W11 3SJ

In the preparation of this issue materials of UKRINFORM, WNU, GOV.UK were used