DISINFO: Ukraine loses more than it gains through association with European Union
SUMMARY
Ukraine has lost more than it has gained in the economic sphere since it signed an association agreement with the European Union. First and foremost, it concerns significant quotas on Ukrainian goods and services meant for the European market. Now it is time to revise it.
RESPONSE
This is a common narrative by Kpro-Kremlin media discrediting Ukraine's relations with the European Union.
In fact, Ukraine has gained very much due to the Association Agreement. Kyiv has taken on important obligations in several crucial spheres, including the economy, industry and environment protection.
The economic side of the deal obliges Ukraine to liberalise the economy, provide for the free movement of capital and implement other measures to expand free market relations.
This agreement provides for the modernisation of Ukraine’s power structure. It causes a transparent power market in Ukraine and, eventually, its gradual integration with the European power grid. Ukraine also pledges to pay more attention to the development of renewable sources of energy.
Environmental obligations are meant to lead to a better ecological situation in Ukraine. The protection of the environment requires significant investment, so a lot of foreign investment is required. It is certainly beneficial to the Ukrainian economy.
The agreement does really cause some problems for Ukraine’s agriculture due to the imposition of quotas on several kinds of export-oriented produce. However, it is a common policy for the European Union to impose quotas on its members in order to make the market more structured and controlled.
Since 2014, the EU and the Financial Institutions have mobilised more than €15 billion in grants and loans to support the reform process, with strong conditionality on continued progress. See here for more details about EU-Ukraine relations.
Propagandist outlets often claim that Ukraine has turned into a colony, its condition is inferior to that of EU members, and a lot of qualified specialists have left for European countries.