EU CALLS FOR DEEPER TIES WITH EX-SOVIET STATES
By Robert Wielaard
AP
11-30-08
BRUSSELS, Belgium (AP) — The EU must significantly boost relations
with Ukraine and five other ex-Soviet republics and make easing
Moscow’s sway over them a priority, a European Commission report says.
The report proposes to triple EU aid to Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus,
Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine to euro1.5 billion by 2020. It says the
EU must offer the nations free trade and economic integration because
the EU has a vital interest in stability on its borders in the light
of Russia’s August war with Georgia.
The European Commission wants the EU to sign association agreements
providing for economic aid and security and defense consultations. It
is silent on future EU membership, something Ukraine desires.
The report says stepping up relations is only possible once there is
"sufficient" progress toward democracy, the rule of law and human
rights. This is particularly relevant for Belarus, whose authoritarian
regime is shunned by the EU but has good relations with Moscow.
The report, a copy of which was obtained by The Associated Press,
is to be made public Wednesday
Russia wants to influence countries with large Russian-speaking
populations.The EU worries about Moscow’s commitment to democracy
and wants to pull Russian neighbors closer to Western Europe with
promises of trade and growth hoping to secure affordable supplies of
energy in the future.
The report says the EU must seek "diversification of energy routes
by enabling the ex-Soviet nations to build new and better connected
pipelines and oil and gas storage facilities.
The EU wants to see a gas pipeline from the Caucasus fully skirting
Russia. Russia is pushing for deals under which Turkmenistan and
Kazakhstan will ship their Caspian Sea gas through Russia.
The EU report warns this would make energy supplies more vulnerable.
European Commission officials hope the EU leaders will endorse the
plan at a spring summit.