Austria May Ratify Ukrainian EU Association Deal This Summer

Austrian Ambassador to Russia, Emil Brix, said that Austria is working on the ratification process of Ukraine’s association with the EU and it may be completed by this summer.

Austria will complete its work on the ratification of the treaty for association of Ukraine with the European Union by next week, said the Austrian Ambassador to Russia, Emil Brix, in an interview with RIA Novosti.

Commenting on the statement by the Head of Ukrainian Presidential Administration, Valeriy Chaly, in which he said that Austria, Italy, Cyprus and Greece, are in no hurry to ratify the agreement, the ambassador noted that "neither Valeriy Chaly, nor any other Ukrainian politicians have ever said that Austria or other EU member states are delaying the ratification agreement with Ukraine.”

Brix said that he just expressed hope that the concerned countries will accelerate the ratification process. He also said that ratification in Austria is in full swing and will be finished by the summer.

The political crisis in Ukraine began in the fall of 2013 when the former Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych suspended the course of Ukraine towards European integration.

The new leader of the country Petro Poroshenko signed a ratified agreement by the European Parliament and Ukrainian Rada for the association of Ukraine with the EU.