Ukraine's newly elected president, Viktor Yushchenko, reiterated Tuesday that his country's principal aim is to join the European Union (EU), even though the bloc has warned it is "premature" to bring in Ukraine.  

"Our strategic aim, our vision is membership in the European Union," Yushchenko told the parliamentary assembly of the Council of Europe in the eastern French city of Strasbourg.

His reaffirmation, made in a 15-minute speech to the assembly took little heed of statements by EU officials who tried to dampen hopes of membership.

Earlier in the day, EU External Relations Commissioner Benita Ferrero-Waldner said that though the EU will have closer ties with Ukraine in the coming years, at present it is "premature" to bring Ukraine into the EU family.

Despite such arguments, Yushchenko stressed his desire to see his country join the 25-member bloc, saying that the EU should make plans for joint actions with Ukraine to decide the process of the latter's accession.

The newly elected president also hopes that the EU would in the near future recognize Ukraine's market economy status and strike a free trade agreement with Ukraine after it manages to join the World Trade Organization "by the end of 2005."

The president also expressed his hope for EU visa facilitation for his people.

EU officials say Ukraine's EU entry 'premature'

EU External Relations Commissioner Benita Ferrero-Waldner said in Brussels Tuesday that it is "premature" to bring Ukraine into the EU family.

Addressing the Foreign Affairs Committee of the European Parliament, Waldner said she and EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana had put forward a 10-point plan on boosting EU-Ukraine ties.

"We want to bring Ukraine closer to the European Union. In a few years we shall see how successful that is," she said.

The remarks came after Viktor Yushchenko pledged in his election campaign to work for EU and NATO membership. A number of EP members had also pushed for Ukraine's EU membership.

However, Waldner said the European Commission (EC) cannot "recommend premature steps," adding that such move "could be counter-productive."

"Let us be realistic -- a lot has to be done by Ukraine," she said. "And the European Union has just taken in 10 countries -- now we have to be realistic," she said, referring to last year's accession to the EU of 10 new members, mostly eastern European countries.

Also on Tuesday, EC chief spokesperson Francoise le Bail told a press briefing that the EC would not promise Ukraine would be considered for entry into the 25-member bloc.

"Our policy on Ukraine is clear. It should be within the framework of the EU's neighborhood policy," she said.

The EU's neighborhood policy only invites EU neighbors to the East and South to share peace, stability and prosperity with the EU in order to create a ring of friends around the borders of the EU bloc, Bail said.

Bail said an EU document to be tabled at a meeting of EU foreign ministers next Monday for approval contains some substantial proposals on EU-Ukraine relations including recognizing Ukraine's market economy status, visa facilitation, cooperation in energy, transport and environment and aid to Ukraine's democratization process.

(Xinhua News Agency January 26, 2005)