EUROPEAN UNION STILL WILLING TO ADMIT UKRAINE, SAY BARROSO by Benson Agoha

Ukraine is still free to sign the Association Agreement which will allow them to receive EU support over their economic situation.

In an official response through a joint statement by President of the European Commission, José Manuel Barroso and the President of the European Council Herman Van Rompuy, the bosses say the the European Union's position on the issue remains clear.

President Viktor Yanukovych of Ukraine, last week announced their decision to shelve talks with the European Union in what he termed `suicide move' and said the decision was in the interested of national security.

Analysists say the move was a victory for Russian President, Vladimir Putin who “welcomed the desire to improve and develop trade and economic cooperation, with a close partner”.

But the EU bosses said "The offer of signing an unprecedented Association Agreement and a DCFTA is still on the table."

They said the European Union stands ready to be more open and more supportive to those who are willing to engage in reforms and modernisation.

Association Agreement and Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area (DCFTA)would have enhanced more integration of Ukraine into the main European Union.

The news comes as the European Commission upholds free movement of people within the European Union.

In a press release, the EU said with over `14 million EU citizens resident in another Member State on a stable basis, free movement – or the ability to live, work and study anywhere in the Union – is the EU right most cherished by Europeans'.

The EU said freedom of movement represents, for about 56% of the EU population, the most cherished right of EU citizenship and the most positive achievement of the Union.

Free movement of citizens, which is enshrined in the EU Treaties and is an integral component of the Single Market and a central element of its success as agreed by in 2004:

DIRECTIVE 2004/38/EC OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL dated 29 April 2004 says in (1) Citizenship of the Union confers on every citizen of the Union a primary and individual right to move and reside freely within the territory of the Member States, subject to the limitations and conditions laid down in the Treaty and to the measures adopted to give it effect.'

* Twitter: @bensonagoha.

* Twitter: @woolwichonline.