Ukraine after ratification of the Association Agreement

Abstract

The Association Agreement between the EU and Ukraine is a comprehensive treaty covering Ukraine’s political and economic relationship with the EU. From now on, the Agreement must transform from a symbol to a forward movement. But this will not happen by itself, as maybe someone would like it. We must be aware that Ukraine will only be able to use the modernization potential of the Agreement as efficiently as pos- sible, provided that its obligations are clear, timely and complete. And this will require an adequate intellectual understanding of contemporary socioeconomic problems and processes, relevant political efforts, institutional capacity and financial expenditures. After all, the meaning of the Agreement is not at all in tariff commitments. And the effect of the entry into force of the Agreement may not be as clear to citizens as the introduction of a visa-free regime with the EU. And when the positive momentous effects of the implementation of the agreement have already been made, let’s understand what influence this association has on the future of Ukraine. During this time, significant socio-political and economic transformations took place in our country. The level of political freedoms has changed, the role of civil society, the level of consciousness, the demand for reforms in society and the recognition of their competitiveness in business have become new. The EU rules and regulations to be implemented in accordance with the Agree- ment are based on the idea of a social market economy, which in turn is a cornerstone of the social order of the Member States. Similarly, the Association Agreement: its implementation is impossible without the cooperation of authorities with business, social partners, public activists. At the same time, the implementation of the legislative and technocratic norms envisaged by the Agreement radically changes the very social fabric of its society and in practice transforms Ukraine into a state with a social market economy, as enshrined in the Con- stitution of Ukraine.