The counter is the basis of the partnership

Brussels will measure the performance of pipelines on the borders of Ukraine

Yesterday's visit of Prime Minister of Ukraine Viktor Yanukovych to Brussels for negotiations with the leadership of the European Union and NATO only partially realized Kyiv's dreams of European and Euro-Atlantic integration, laid down in the compromise between all political forces of the country in the Universal National Unity of Ukraine of August 3. The real result of the negotiations between Ukrainian Prime Minister Viktor Yanukovych in the EU is only an agreement on financing by the European Union through the European Investment Bank and the European Bank for the Reconstruction and Development of meters on gas and oil pipelines in the Ukrainian borderlands.

“This very specific cooperation scheme will increase transparency, reliability and security of supplies to Ukraine and the transit of energy resources to the EU,” said European Commissioner for External Relations and Neighborhood Policy Benita Ferrero-Waldner. The EU's concern stems from European concerns in January due to a reduction in gas supplies through Ukraine during the gas price dispute between Kyiv and Moscow.

It is not very clear, however, why Brussels needs these counters. At the exit from the Russian pipeline, not to mention the entrance to Slovakia, there are such measurement systems, which was demonstrated live during the January conflict. As you know, then the head of Gazprom, Alexey Miller, ordered on TV to reduce supplies to Ukraine while maintaining the transit volume. At metering stations in Slovakia (this was also broadcast on central channels), a comparable decrease in incoming Russian gas was recorded. That is, proving the fact of unauthorized volume was as easy as shelling pears.

But the prospects for Ukraine’s accession to the EU are not yet visible. “The European Neighborhood Policy for Ukraine does not provide for the possibility of membership in this regional organization, but is intended to bring the partner country closer to the EU,” explained Ms. Ferrero-Waldner, diplomatically noting that “no one can predict the future.” Mr. Yanukovych remained optimistic: “We have firm intentions to build stable relations with the EU, which would ultimately lead to joining the union.”

On Wednesday, the European Commission approved guidelines for negotiations with Ukraine on a new partnership and cooperation agreement. They will begin in 2007, if Ukraine is admitted to the WTO in 2006. The parties intend to go beyond the old agreement as much as possible. The provision on a free trade zone between Ukraine and the EU will become fundamentally new.

The EU perceived Yanukovych’s visit as “extremely productive and successful,” but recalled the importance of political, institutional and economic reforms in Ukraine for the development of partnership.

Yesterday, the prime minister met with NATO Secretary General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer. After the meeting of the Ukraine-NATO Commission, Mr. Yanukovych said: “We must pursue a policy that would not become a dead end for the development of Russia’s relations with the EU or NATO, but, on the contrary, so that Ukraine builds a reliable bridge for these relations.” Let us recall that during the March parliamentary elections, Viktor Yanukovych’s Party of Regions objected to Ukraine’s membership in the Alliance. But, fulfilling agreements with President Yushchenko, Mr. Yanukovych announced in Brussels about the “urgency of expanding cooperation” with the Alliance, because “integration into NATO today is not supported by Ukrainian society.” According to him, only “a small part of the population, from 12 to 25%” is in favor of it.

Katerina LABETSKAYA