Main points
Role: the highest level of policy dialogue and policy implementation dialogue.
Composition: meetings are held with the participation of the President of Ukraine, the President of the European Council and the President of the European Commission.
Chairmanship: alternately.
Created: September 5, 1997.
Venue: held each year alternately in Ukraine and the EU (most often in Kyiv and Brussels).
Website: EU–Ukraine summit, Ukraine–EU summits.
What matters are considered at the EU–Ukraine summits?
- bilateral or international matters of mutual interest;
- general supervision of the implementation of the Agreement.
How does an EU–Ukraine summit work?
Ukraine–EU summits are held on the basis of article 5 of the Association Agreement between Ukraine and the EU, according to which “the parties hold regular meetings in the framework of political dialogue at the summit level”.
The summit meetings provide the parties with an opportunity to sum up the results of cooperation between Ukraine and the EU at the highest level over the past year, to determine priorities for cooperation in the near future, to discuss the development of the situation in Ukraine and the European Union, as well as to agree on positions on topical international issues.
Usually, according to the results of the summits, the leaders of Ukraine and the EU approve a joint final document – a statement or press release, which consolidates the agreements reached during the negotiations.
Since the beginning of the practice of Ukraine–EU summits, twenty summits have been held.
1st – 5th September 1997 – Kyiv
2nd – 16th October 1998 – Vienna
3rd – 23 July 1999 – Kyiv
4th – 15th September 2000 – Paris
5th – 11th September 2001 – Yalta
6th – 4th July 2002 – Copenhagen
7th – 7th October 2003 – Yalta
8th – 8th July 2004 –Hague
9th – 1st December 2005 – Kyiv
10th – 27th October 2006 – Helsinki
11th – 14th September 2007 – Kyiv
12th – 9th September 2008 – Evian
13th – 4th December 2009 – Kyiv
14th – 22 November 2010 – Brussels
15th – 19th December 2011 – Kyiv
16th – 25th February 2013 – Brussels
17th – 27th April 2015 – Kiyiv
18th – 24th November 2016 – Brussels
19th – 13th of July 2017 – Kyiv
20th – 9th July 2018 – Brussels
21st – 8th July 2019 – Kyiv
22nd – 6th October 2020 – Brussels
The key topics of the 20th EU–Ukraine summit in Brussels were priorities and implementation of the Association agreement and DCFTA, implementation of Minsk agreements, illegal annexation of Crimea and Sevastopol, regional matters. During the 19th Ukraine–EU Summit in Kyiv, the President of Ukraine outlined four areas of integration that should develop the success of the Association Agreement – the energy market, the digital market, customs and justice, freedom and security. Also, the state of implementation of the Association Agreement and the implementation of internal reforms in Ukraine, as well as the provision of EU support were reviewed. Special attention was paid to the completion of the process of ratification of the Association Agreement and the introduction of a visa-free regime.
The results of the Summit confirmed the close partnership on the basis of the Association Agreement and the definition of priority areas of integration. The EU reaffirmed its commitment to Ukraine's independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity and expressed its support for an ambitious reform programme in Ukraine. The leaders also stressed the need for full implementation of the Minsk agreements by all parties, stressing Russia's responsibility for the war in Eastern Ukraine.