BRUSSELS, March 2 – The European Union's drive to sign an EU-Ukraine Association Agreement and free trade deal in 2011 is the union's "most far-reaching offer," European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso said, European online newspaper EUObserver reported.

"Regarding the prospects of accession, we have always stated that instead of discussing possible dates ...it is much more important now to focus on reforms that are needed to bring Ukraine closer to Europe and de facto integrated in our economic system," he said.