Ukraine, EU to Moscow “cooperate or sanctions will be applied in three steps”

EU Heads of State or Government decided to suspend bilateral talks with the Russian Federation on visa matters; furthermore, results should be achieved “within a limited timeframe”, or “additional measures” will be decided with “serious consequences on bilateral relationships.” Van Rompuy: “the decision to hold a referendum for Crimea’s independence is illegal.”

The President of the European Council Van Rompuy announced it with satisfaction “You will be surprised,” he said, “Given yesterday’s newspapers, I’d say no one would have expected this.” Yet, during the extraordinary meeting of EU Heads of State or Government, a tough stance against Russia has been decided. A reaction stronger than expected, considering the important economic relationships between Russia and several Member States. The strategy agreed during the meeting consists of a three-step approach. First, the suspension of bilateral talks with the Russian Federation on visa matters as well as talks with the Russian Federation on the New Agreement. Moscow has been negotiating on free visa since 2007, and the Union decided to freeze the process given the escalation in Ukraine. Furthermore, the decision of the European Members of the G8 and the EU institutions to suspend their participation in G8 Summit preparations until further notice was approved too, a sort of ultimatum to Russia. The solution to the crisis, the text reads, should be found through negotiations that “need to start within the next few days and produce results within a limited timeframe.” In the absence of such results, warned the EU, “additional measures” will be decided, such as travel bans, asset freezes and cancellation of the EU – Russia summit. A third step will be taken in case of further steps by the Russian Federation to further destabilize the situation in Ukraine. This, said the Heads of State or Government, would “lead to additional and far-reaching consequences for relations in a broad range of economic areas” between the European Union and its Member States, on the one hand, and the Russian Federation, on the other hand.

The extraordinary meeting resulted in a strong commitment to accelerating the timing for signing the Association Agreement with the Ukraine. As a matter of priority, said President Van Rompuy, the EU will sign very shortly the “political chapters” of the Agreement, before the Ukrainian elections of 25 May. That is, with the current ad interim government and before the election of a new Parliament and Government. In addition, the Union intends to adopt special trade measures to allow Ukraine to benefit substantially soon from the advantages of the Free Trade Area.

While in Crimea the secession has been proclaimed, and preparations for the referendum to be held on March 16 continue, the European Council has officially declared that this is “illegal.” As President Van Rompuy said, “We consider the decision by Crimea’s Supreme Council to hold a referendum as contrary to the Ukrainian constitution and therefore illegal.”

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