Ukraine's government carried out the steps to integrate further with the European Union (EU), with parliament passing its final necessary World Trade Organization (WTO) legislation at its Session.

Just recently the President of Ukraine Viktor Yushchenko proclaimed he expects to sign an Enhanced Agreement between Ukraine and the EU, which he expected would lead to Ukraine's associate member status by September.

"I think we will obtain a clear EU membership prospect, just as we received a clear prospect for NATO membership several days ago," Yushchenko noted.

Parliament boosted such integration intensions with the April 10 passage of Ukraine's WTO protocol agreement, which the Ministry of Foreign Affairs will submit to the WTO General Council.

Parliament also has concluded five WTOrelated laws and charged the Cabinet of Ministers to develop a plan of measures to bring Ukraine in compliance with WTO economic standards.

Ukraine has the chance to become a WTO member within 30 days of the General Council's receipt of the approved protocol. Ukraine must also pass 10 more WTO related laws during this time said Valeriy Pyatnytsky, the assistant economics minister.

WTO membership is really considered as Ukraine's first real step in joining the EU, Ukraine's largest trade partner, accounting for 25 percent of its exports and 42 percent of its imports.

In joining this world organization, Ukraine will also gain leverage on the Russian Federation's membership bid, with a blocking option.

Ukraine's ratification of the WTO entrance protocols energized the discussion on a bilateral free trade pact between Brussels and Kyiv.

The introduction of WTO membership allowed Ukraine to begin negotiations on a Free Trade Zone on Feb. 17, expected to take eight months, said Viktor Chumak, a integration expert to Euro Union at the International Centre for Policy Studies in Kyiv, Ukraine.

However, Ukraine is aiming to graduate from its current European Neighborhood Policy membership to associate member status by September, Yushchenko added.

"What the difference is between affiliate membership and neighborhood policy is unclear," Chumak wondered. "Nobody knows what concrete political and economic profits EU associate membership provides, but WTO and the possible Free Trade Zone create real progress in Ukraine's Integration to Euro Union.