"An important part of a post-conflict solution must be to design a trade regime that can build trust and transparency with both Russia and the EU," Christian Friis Bach wrote in an article on the Euractiv website on Thursday.
According to Bach, an important issue underlying the conflict in Ukraine was whether Kiev should join the European Union Association Agreement or the Eurasian Customs Union comprising Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Armenia and Kyrgyzstan.
He said that the ability to build trust and provide transparency between Ukraine, Russia and the EU depended largely on border control measures, clear transit procedures and "well-established" rules of origin.
Bach added that experience of other countries around the world could be studied, as to how to successfully become members of more than one free trade agreement.
"Similarly, an important part of the post-conflict solution must be to build a trade regime that can promote trade, growth and jobs in all parts of this war-devastated country," Bach wrote.
Bach concluded that trade and trade facilitation must become an integral part of the Ukrainian crisis settlement, with Ukraine's main trading partners cooperating to ensure the fostering of peace through trade in the country.
In September 2014, Ukraine and the European Parliament ratified the economic and political parts of the Association Agreement. Moscow has repeatedly stated that the implementation of the agreement carries economic risks for Russia-Ukraine relations and could trigger an uncontrolled flow of duty-free goods from Europe, forcing Russia to protect its market.
