EUROPEAN INTEGRATION PROCESS IN MODERN UKRAINE

УДК 339.924(477777)

Завадська Ю.В., студентка 2 курсу
ХНЕУ ім. С. Кузнеця

The international economic integration is process of economic interaction of the countries for the purpose of achievement of certain benefits in mutual trade in goods, services, movement of production factors by the conclusion of interstate agreements about further their cooperation.

Integration – is an objective development of stable long-term commercial ties and the international job specialization of the national farms close on social and economic level.

It is necessary to carry to prerequisites of creation of integration groups:

  1. proximity of levels of economic development and degree of a market maturity;
  2. geographical proximity of the countries, availability of general border, historically developed commercial ties. The vast majority of integration associations began according to the conclusion of agreements between several neighboring countries located on one continent have general or next transport communications, historical, cultural, religious traditions;
  3. community of economic, social, political and other problems.

The demonstration effect – positive consequences of the entry of the countries in integration associations, is a peculiar example of advantage of integration for other countries.

Effect of “dominoes” – is the negative consequences for the countries which aren’t entering integration consolidation caused by reorientation of commercial ties of member countries and lack of a liberalization cooperation of conditions.

Characteristic features of economic integration are:

  1. interrelation and interpenetration of national production processes;
  2. development of the international specialization and cooperation in production, investment, innovative spheres;
  3. structural changes in economy of member countries compliance with strategic objectives of integration;
  4. purposeful regulation of integration process, coordination of economic strategy of member countries.

One of the priority directions of integration of Ukraine is membership in the European Union (EU) – is one of the most integration groups of the world.

The main directions of integration process are:

  1. adaptation of the legislation of Ukraine to the legislation of the EU, ensuring human rights;
  2. deepening of trade relations between Ukraine and the EU;
  3. deepening of a cooperation of Ukraine and the EU in the context of the all-European safety;
  4. adaptation of social policy of Ukraine to standards of the EU;
  5. educational and scientific and technical integration;
  6. industry cooperation;
  7. cooperation in the field of environmental protection.

On September 14, 2000 the Presidential decree of Ukraine adopted the Program of the European integration of Ukraine which subordinated process of carrying out internal reforms in the context of implementation of the Partnership and Cooperation Agreement general political to a task of achievement of the Copenhagen criteria. For the first time political standards and requirements of membership of the state in the EU (The Copenhagen criteria) became an integral part of the national legal system of Ukraine.

On February 21, 2005 the Action plan Ukraine-EU within which the specific mechanism of adaptation of the Ukrainian legislation to the European is developed was accepted. With completion of the validity period in March, 2009, the Plan it is replaced with the new two-sided political Ukraine-EU tool which contains actions and priorities for accomplishment of liabilities of the Agreement on association. The special value the new tool will be for implementation of provisions of the profound free trade area Ukraine - the EU as an integral part of the Agreement on association which provides profound adaptation of the legislation of the EU to regulations and standards of the EU in many spheres of economy of Ukraine.

On March 5, 2007 negotiations on the conclusion of the new agreement which shall replace the Partnership and Cooperation Agreement are begun. Representatives of the EU insisted on the conclusion of the strategic relations with Ukraine as with the country then neighbor.

During the Parisian summit Ukraine-EU (September, 2008), the compromise solution concerning the name of this agreement as Agreements on association was reached.

In March, 2009 between Ukraine and the EU the Mutual declaration on reconstruction and upgrade of a gas-transport system of Ukraine with attraction of the European investments was signed.

On June 16, 2009 during the meeting of Council for cooperation with Ukraine: the EU is politically approved “The agenda of Ukraine-EU association for preparation and assistance of implementation of the Agreement on association” which is the new practical tool on replacement of the Action plan Ukraine-EU which, according to public experts, didn’t equal the hopes laid on it in certain spheres of a cooperation, for preparation of the Parties in implementation of the Agreement on association until entry into force.

The document is prepared on the principles:

  1. political association and economic integration;
  2. joint participation, common responsibility and overall assessment.

Annual review and implementation of the mechanism to monitor its implementation is provided.

Monitoring of how Ukraine fulfills the liabilities within the Agenda of association, both the European Commission, and the Ukrainian civil society performs.

On February 27, 2014, after the events the Euromaidan, European Parliament adopted the resolution in which it is for the first time said that Ukraine has the right to become the full-fledged member of the European Union. It is specified that agreement signature about association isn’t an ultimate goal of partnership with Ukraine, “have a long-term opportunity to submit the application for membership in the EU”.

On March 21, 2014 a political part of the agreement of association with the European Union was signed.

The purposes of association are:

  1. to promote gradual rapprochement of the parties, based on general values and close exclusive ties and also deepening communication of Ukraine with policy of the EU and its participation in programs and the agencies;
  2. to provide a necessary framework for the strengthened political dialogue in all spheres which are of mutual interest;
  3. to promote, keep and strengthen the peace and stability in regional and international measurements according to the principles of the Charter of the UN, the Helsinki final act of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe in 1975 and also is more whole than the Parisian charter for new Europe 1990;
  4. to enter conditions for the strengthened economic and trade relations which will lead to gradual integration of Ukraine in the domestic market of the EU, including thanks to creation of the profound and comprehensive free trade area;
  5. to strengthen a cooperation in the sphere of justice, freedom and safety for the purpose of ensuring supremacy of law and respect of human rights and fundamental freedoms;
  6. to enter conditions for more and more close cooperation in other spheres which are of mutual interest.

Prospect in development of Ukraine:

  1. the EU is a development of economy. The entry of Ukraine into the European Union will allow us to join one of the public world markets, bigger than the markets of the USA and Japan. The EU is the unique harmonized market from nearly 500 million users, 30 million firms and companies making goods by single rules and standards. Equal membership in the EU to – will deign to conduct freely to the Ukrainian producers trading activities in the European market and will force them to improve the quality of goods and provide their competitiveness;
  2. the EU is a high quality of life. The average level and quality of life in EU countries many times exceeds indicators of Ukraine. The entry of Ukraine into the European Union will allow joining to its sky and social programs, to get access to the European education system and healthcare;
  3. the EU is human rights, effective and available judicial protection, high and reliable constitutional guarantees of the rights and freedoms of the person and citizen;
  4. the EU is democracy. The high level of development of democratic institutes in the country is one of fundamental criteria for the accession of new members to the EU. Having chosen a rate on the European integration, our country shall make considerable efforts that Ukrainian citizens will feel benefits of democracy on European sample;
  5. the EU is an energy security. In modern conditions any European country isn’t able to ensure the energy security solely. Moving on the way to enter to the EU, our country tries to get support and upholding the energy interests from leaders of the European countries.

Sixthly, the EU is free travelling. After entering to the European Union for citizens a large number of the European borders open and unique opportunity freely appears without obstacles and humiliating “visa control” to move across Europe.