The events leading to tomorrow’s Presidential inauguration will enter history as a milestone, not only for Ukraine, but also for its relations with the European Union. Recent events have shown the extent of your commitment to the democratic values on which Europe is based. Even before these events the EU was intending to upgrade its relations with Ukraine, but now it is clear that our relations have taken on a new resonance and that we may be able to move more quickly than we previously thought possible.

Ukraine is a valued partner for the EU, which we hope will benefit greatly from our new Neighbourhood Policy. This policy offers to those with whom we share borders new opportunities: to share the prosperity of our Single Market, to benefit from closer co-operation with us, even to take part in some EU activities. It’s a substantial offer – but an offer conditional on concrete steps being taken towards economic reform and to strengthen the rule of law, good governance, human rights and democracy.

While demonstrators thronged the streets of Kiev last December, demanding democracy, in Brussels, we were agreeing an Action Plan to bring Ukraine closer to Europe, politically and economically. We decided the Plan would be implemented only after democratic elections. The free and fair vote of 26 December, so bravely demanded by so many Ukrainians, now opens the way for us to unlock the potential of a deeper relationship.

Europe will have most to offer those who share our values, and now, we want to see swift results for Ukraine. Results that will meet many of the aspirations expressed by Ukraine herself, for the country’s future, and for changes that can improve everyday lives.

We know the appetite that exists for freer travel to Europe. That’s why the plan contains a proposal to begin dialogue with Ukraine with a view to preparing a future visa facilitation agreement. This could make a major contribution to easing the bureaucratic burden on travellers, and sends an important signal that Ukrainians are not just citizens of “third countries”, but our close neighbours with whom we share interests, ideals and aspirations.

We want Ukraine to reap the benefits that closer economic integration with the EU could bring. We should work on a range of measures to help Ukraine improve its access to the EU’s internal market with all that that can mean for jobs and incomes, and we should investigate the possibility of establishing a free trade area between Ukraine and the EU in the future. The EU takes every opportunity to support Ukraine’s accession to the WTO and in the meantime we propose to look at some of Ukraine’s key industrial exports to the EU, and, where appropriate, start gradual liberalisation.

To those who have urged us to grant market economy status, we say again, this status can only be granted to countries which have fulfilled certain criteria. Ukraine needs to improve its practices, for example regarding state interference in pricing, and on bankruptcy rules. Let us look, however, at how we could offer assistance to help speed up the necessary reforms.

The more we do together, the more we will be drawn into a closer relationship. We should step up our co operation in all the areas where we have shared interests. Can we help consolidate your reforms in democracy and rule of law? Can you work even more closely with us to address regional crises like the Transniestria conflict? Can we not both gain from closer collaboration on energy and transport issues? Does Ukraine wish to take its place in Europe-wide co-operation on Environment issues, or the development of European satellite navigation? The Plan that we have before us is rich in possibilities.

Our wish for a deeper relationship with Ukraine is not only about activities for governments and institutions, it is about people. It is essential to bring our communities, our youth, our students, and civil society closer together. We propose involving Ukrainian scientists in high-level scientific exchanges, and working on the convergence of our higher education systems so that Ukraine can participate in the European higher education area. We could also include Ukraine in some of the EU’s internal programmes, such as the YOUTH programme which organises exchanges for young people and promotes intercultural dialogue.

What does the future hold for this relationship? How far will we go together? I cannot tell you. But even at this stage we hold out the prospect of cementing our closer ties by drawing up a new and enhanced EU-Ukraine agreement, to replace our current arrangements, if indeed progress with the Action Plan justifies a new expression of our special relationship.

I’m looking forward to discussing these ideas and more at a special EU-Ukraine Coordination Council meeting on 21 February in Brussels. The pace at which we go will depend on the pace set by the new Ukrainian administration, but I am confident that the new government will be ambitious, and that we can move forward quickly. We have the opportunity to draw closer than ever before, and I will play my part in ensuring that we seize the moment.