As of today, three of the four issues have been agreed, in respect of which the Netherlands wishes the legally binding declaration to be adopted, to allow for the ratification of the Ukraine-EU Association Agreement, an UNIAN correspondent in Brussels reported, citing her diplomatic sources.
See also: Dutch to demand limits on Ukraine deal at EU summit – Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte
The discussions over the remaining issue on ensuring that the Association Agreement is not a step toward Ukraine`s membership in the EU will take place later on Monday, the sources say.
”The Netherlands have already reached agreements on three of the four conditions that they want to achieve and that clearly state that the Association Agreement does not provide for any military assistance to Kyiv, that this deal will not cost the EU extra money, and that Member States have the right to limit the number of Ukrainians who are allowed to work and live in the EU. The question as to whether that agreement is not a step toward [Ukraine`s] membership will be discussed tonight,” the diplomat told UNIAN.
The source noted that it was not about changing the text, but rather about ”a clear explanation of the specific provisions of the Agreement.”
According to the diplomat, ”there is great political will” to reach these agreements.
”[Dutch Prime Minister Mark] Rutte hopes on Thursday [when the EU summit is scheduled] to reach final agreements on a legally binding declaration,” said the source.
Earlier, Prime Minister of the Netherlands Mark Rutte offers that the EU leaders at the summit state that the Deal with Ukraine must not contain additional security of financial obligations to Kyiv on the part of Brussels. The Netherlands require that the EU leaders recognize that the association between the EU and Ukraine will not grant the Ukrainians the right to live and work in the territory of the EU Member States.
See also: Dutch foreign minister says no deal yet on Ukraine agreement
