EU ministers urge increased return rates to tackle irregular migration

Home affairs ministers from European Union (EU) member states on Thursday urged that increased return rates should act as a deterrent to irregular migration.

Danish political parties agree to hold referendum over EU justice policy

Denmark's major political parties agreed on Tuesday on a framework for the referendum over whether the country should adopt the European Union's (EU) justice and home affairs rules, Denmark's Prime Minister Helle Thorning-Schmidt announced.

Ukraine’s decision to join Russia and CIS for trade relations, welcomed in Moscow.

“Moscow welcomes the decision of Ukraine to develop cooperation with Russia and other CIS countries”, said presidential press secretary Dmitry Peskov to reporters on Thursday evening in Moscow.  

According to Mr Peskov, Russia is ready to enhance cooperation with its closest partner - Ukraine."

Ukraine Won't Sign Association Agreement, EU Confirms. -"In the interest of Ukraine's national security."

Ukraine will not be signing an Association Agreement with the European Union, confirmed EU special envoy Aleksander Kwasniewski.

"Our mission is over," said Kwasniewski, adding that no Association Agreement will be signed at the upcoming meeting in Vilnius next week.

Earlier Thursday, Ukraine's government announced it adopted a decision to stop the country's preparation for signing an Association Agreement with the European Union.

The decision whether to continue work for the Association Agreement was highly anticipated, as Ukraine had to decide between forging closer ties with the EU and joining the Belarus-Kazakhstan-Russia customs union.

Ukraine Remains Committed to EU Trade Deal.

MOSCOW, November 20 (RIA Novosti) – Ukraine’s prime minister said Wednesday that his country remained committed to clinching a landmark trade deal with the European Union, although the agreement could be derailed by intransigence over jailed former premier Yulia Tymoshenko.
Ukraine is expected to sign an association agreement with the EU at the Eastern Partnership Summit, set to start in Vilnius on November 28.
Prime Minister Mykola Azarov told reporters in the Russian city of St. Petersburg that preparations for the summit were proceeding normally.
“Our plans remain unchanged,” he said.

Ukraine will have to adapt its laws in line with 59 EU directives.

KIEV, November 19, 21:58 /ITAR-TASS/. Ukraine, which is seeking to sign an association and free trade zone agreement with the European Union, will have to adapt its laws to 59 regulations and directives of the European Union, Ukrainian Minister of Agrarian Policy and Food Nikolai Prisyazhnyuk said on Tuesday.

“To ensure access to the European Union’s market for our products and to ensure their competitiveness there, we must harmonize our laws with relevant laws of the European Union,” he said at a roundtable meeting entitled “Ukraine’s Agrarian Sector and Paths of European Integration.” “Thus, we will have to adapt to 59 regulations and directives of the European Union listed in the draft association agreement with the European Union. At the same time, we hope for a considerable financial and technical assistance promised to us by the European side.”