EU urges Ukraine to step up efforts for closer ties

A European Union (EU) official on Wednesday called on Kiev to step up efforts to implement the needed preconditions for closer ties ahead of Monday's bilateral summit in Brussels. "The fact that 2013 is the year for the signing of the association agreement will be the main theme of the summit. However, to sign the deal, Ukraine must fulfill several prerequisites," EU delegation head Jan Tombinski told a briefing here. To sign the deal, Ukraine is obliged to take specific measures to settle issues of EU concern, including lack of reforms, lack of progress in addressing the question of selective justice and its poor business climate. The EU and Ukraine last March initialed an association agreement that includes arrangements for a free-trade area and easing the visa regime for Ukrainian citizens. The 27-member bloc postponed the signing in May, citing court system shortcomings and a lack of reform.