Ukraine will join the free trade zone no earlier than 2013. This was noted by the European Commission. It is an optimistic forecast, which can be realized if the parties can maintain the current tempo of the negotiating process.

"To create a deep and comprehensive free trade zone only ratification of the European Parliament and the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine is needed. Thus, this agreement will come into force in 2013," - said a spokesman for the European Commission.

According to him, despite the fact that the agreement on the free trade zone is part of an association agreement, it can come into force immediately after the ratification of the association agreement by European Parliament, without waiting for the ratification by European Union member countries.

European Commission representative has also noted that EU is concerned about the situation in Ukrainian business. He noted that it is necessary to solve the problems of customs, corruption, protection of investors.
We remind, that Ukraine and the EU have begun dialogue on an association agreement in 2007. In early 2008, the parties began negotiations on an free trade zone agreement, which should become the part of the association agreement. Ukraine and the EU plans to conclude FTZ negotiations until the summer of 2011.