EU/Ukraine Mission DCFTA Workshop – 10th April 2013

For those of you who happen to be in Brussels on Wednesday 10th April, the Ukrainian Mission to the EU is holding a DCFTA workshop for business at the Press Club Brussels, 95 Rue Froissart, 1040 from 1500 – 1630.

Key speakers are the two main negotiators of the DCFTA Messrs V Piatnytskyi and P Cuisson.

Some may consider this somewhat hopeful given there are doubts the AA and DCFTA will be signed in Vilnius in November – however with the impending seemingly immediate release of Yuri Lutsenko, perhaps not.  His release will go a long way towards the “substantial progress” the EU has demanded over the issue of “selective justice”.  Possibly just far enough, as nobody really expects Tymoshenko to be released prior to 2016 and equally nobody expects much in the way of ratification before that date either due to German, French and EU parliamentary elections in 2013, 2014 and then Ukrainian presidential elections in 2015.

Who knows?  As is so often the case in Ukraine, it just manages to do enough by the eleventh hour – by hook or by crook – be it delivering a good Euro 2012 tournament on an international scale, or the tradesmen finishing and leaving a new shopping centre two hours before it is due to open domestically.

Whether the same time and effort will be spend within Ukraine making the same explanations to business and entrepreneurs  remains to be seen.  Perhaps it is felt better to leave that until any signing actually happens?  That said, signed or not signed, I fully anticipate mutually beneficial parts of the DCFTA to be implemented anyway – as is always the case with what is considered politically expedient to all concerned.  After all the framework is already agreed and initialed, sealing the framework.

I have to say, that despite my invitation to this event, I will not be traveling to Brussels for the sake of a 90 minute workshop – particularly one that is more focused towards the Europeans looking at the opportunities the DCFTA offers in Ukraine, rather than one aimed at Ukrainians and the opportunities it offers looking west.

If a traveling roadshow passes through Odessa attempting to educate on the specifics of the DCFTA and opportunities it offers Ukrainians looking west – then I will surely attend – just to let you know what was said!

EU/Ukraine DCFTA final text initialed

Whilst almost everyone would be forgiven for thinking that the EU-Ukrainian DCFTA agreement has either already been initialed and dealt with some time ago, or that it has simply ground to a halt over EU concerns regarding selective prosecutions and shabby trial procedures, naturally they would be wrong.

Such incredibly complicated agreements, even when initialed to some public fanfare, have an awful lot of technical bits and pieces that still require the devil of the detail putting into print and being agreed.

Thus this has been the caase between the EU and Ukraine ever since the public initialing of the DCFTA some time ago.

However, on 19th July, the technical bits and pieces were finally agreed and initialed in Brussels between both sides – to absolutely no fanfare whatsoever – other than a short statement from those involved confirming that it had indeed occurred.

There never has been much glory or acknowledgement for the boiler room staff in such matters, garlands and public platitudes being reserved for those who are figureheads is the traditional way.

Anyway, it is now done – almost.  Off to the translators within the EU for it to be put into the 22 languages used, and then be circulated to the 27 Member States.

As the devil is so oft in the detail that was only agreed and initialed a few days ago, any of my Brussels Quarter readers who may happen upon a copy of this, do feel free to share!

New Customs Rules effective 1st June 2012

Yes, yes, I know!

Today is 4th June and I’m telling you about changes coming into force 4 days ago.

Well six months ago I told you about the new law so I did tell you and you have simply forgotten in amongst the torrent of tedious ruminations you have had to sit and read since then.  And I have been moving and seen more cardboard boxes than can be found housing the homeless under the bridges in London.

So, better late than never, in English, the new, current, latest customs allowances for those coming to Ukraine. – What?  It still says 2009?  A State website still displaying old data for what is a major change to legislation?  Well keep your eye on it and it will catch up eventually no doubt – It may even get updated by the time you finish reading this entry.

OK – Well here (in a language most will have to run through Google translate as I am still unpacking and don’t have time to do it for you) is the Ukraine_Customs_Requirements_Rus from a Kyiv based travel agent.

Yes, OK, I apologise for letting a little thing like moving  getting this information to you in a language you understand in an untimely manner.

Customs changes to personal allowances – Ukraine

Apologies for this and the previous post seeming to be public service announcements, but some of you dear readers actually read this blog for hard information and not my ruminations on the state of the nation.

In keeping with the public service side of this blog, with regards to the new rules if you click here you will be directed to the personal new allowances relating to customs and excise in Ukraine.

Enjoy!