European Union–Ukraine relations

AGERPRES special correspondent to Brussels, Belgium, Madalina Cerban reports:

At the European Council meeting in Brussels on Friday, Romania's President Klaus Iohannis reaffirmed support for the implementation of the Digital Single Market objectives.

EURONEWS. - European Union leaders have reached an agreement on migration after almost nine hours of talks in Brussels over the sensitive issue threatening their union and zone of free travel, as well as German Chancellor Angela Merkel's government.

"EU28 leaders have agreed on (summit) conclusions, including on migration," the chairman of the talks, Donald Tusk, said.

A €1 billion macro-financial loan to help Ukraine cover part of its external financing needs in 2018-2019 was approved by Parliament on Wednesday.

MEPs agreed to an EU Commission proposal to provide Kiev with another package of macro-financial assistance (MFA), which is an exceptional emergency resource for EU neighbourhood countries struggling to pay their bills.

It "reaffirms EU's unequivocal support for the European perspective of the Western Balkans," and states tasks and principles the sides should meet during the process of EU integration.

An annex to the declaration has also been adopted, related to strengthening ties and cooperation between the EU and the Western Balkans.

Leaders of the 28 EU countries sit at the negotiating table with countries wishing to become part of the Union. Before the meeting, some of the euro-leaders made first comments.

The European Commission launched its new enlargement strategy for the Western Balkans on Tuesday, offering help for all six EU aspirant states but insisting that all the membership hopefuls implement reforms and make a clear commitment to the "fundamental values" of the European bloc in return.

The upper house of the British Parliament has warned about the instability of democracy and of the rule of law in the Western Balkans.

This is contained in the "UK and the future of the Western Balkans" report published by the Select Committee on International Relations.

BRUSSELS - In its annual report on implementation of the common foreign and security policy, the European Parliament (EP) notes the need for the EU to once again place its "strategic focus" on the Western Balkans.

The EU needs to continue with its ambitions in the region and thus give a new momentum to a credible EU enlargement policy, says the EP report, seen by Tanjug.

Senior officials from Turkey and the EU held a high-level Economic Dialogue meeting on Dec. 8, saying they seek to improve ties, boost economic performance, and resolve major common issues after a rocky period in relations.

EU leaders pressed Ukraine on Friday to speed up reforms that Europe and the United States hope will bring the country closer to the West but Kiev responded that it needed a promise it could join the bloc, reported Reuters.