Ukraine without ECtHR judge

Through Antoine from the ECHR blog I just learned that Ukraine does not have a judge at the European Court of Human Rights (belonging to the Council of Europe which I covered earlier this week) these days:

"A procedural battle is being waged about the appointment of a new Ukranian Judge at the Court. [...]

The origin was the fact that in 2007 one of the three candidates on the list submitted to Ukraine withdrew. Thusfar, the authorities refused to submit a new third candidate. Instead they have submitted a completely new list, without even justifying such a move with a reference to exceptional circumstances. [...]"

How can it take two years to resolve such an issue when the ECtHR is chronically understaffed and could need every judge it can get...?

Lavrov on Ukraine

The Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung (FAZ), one of the two largest quality newspapers in Germany, has published a letter by Sergey Lavrov in today's edition.

While most of the content is known to everyone who has followed the recent Georgian crisis, I would like to quote some words concerning Ukraine:

It is also on the West to make a strategic choice. Forcing Ukraine into the role of a buffer zone between Europe and Russia would mean to downgrade Ukraine. Instead, we should jointly design our relations to the world, in particular because Russia as well as Ukraine are an inseperable element of Europe, its culture, politics, and economy.

I don't agree with many things in this letter, but I at least agree with these lines.

If they would stand alone, they could sound reasonable. However, they are connected to much more confrontational rhethoric, which - not surprisingly - raises doubts over their honesty.

Ukraine gets "association" agreement from EU

According to several sources, during today's EU-Ukraine summit in Evian, officials from both sides will discuss a closer political and economic cooperation in the form of an offical agreement.

On the demand of Ukraine, the new agreement to be signed will be called "association agreement" which is close to the pre-accession terminology ("Stabilisation and Association Agreement") of the European Union, although legally it still sounds weaker.

Reuter reports about the possible outcome of today's summit:

A draft summit text acknowledges Ukraine's European aspirations and adds "that gradual convergence of Ukraine with the EU in political, economic and legal areas will contribute to further progress in EU-Ukraine relations".

It describes a broad bilateral pact under negotiation as an "association agreement", wording that can imply the possibility of future membership, and the leaders will announce the launch of a dialogue towards an eventual visa-free regime.

Yet another valuable step towards greater unity in Europe, although in the light of the Ukrainian political crisis one might have doubts how far Ukraine can go beyond empty promises...

Debate: Should Ukraine join the EU and/or NATO?

I could spend quite some time formulating my opinion on this question, but instead I recommend reading the debate on this issue at the Central Europe Active blog. Just a short statement:

If it wants, an internally united Ukraine should get a membership perspective for the European Union; nevertheless, the process will take quite some time and enormous efforts.

But before you go to the debate, please first stop by at Dante's Vitaliy's 8th Circle, because he was so kind presenting the translation of some recent figures on the public opinion in Ukraine concerning the accession of the country to the European Union. The figures confirm the divide of this big European country, although they leave some room for interpretation. Vitaliy does this in a more optimistic way while personally I would show some restraint.