Ukraine's long-term hopes of joining the European Union were boosted on Thursday when the European parliament voted overwhelmingly to open the door to possible membership.

Viktor Yushchenko, Ukraine's new pro-western leader, also could receive a further boost from the EU next month when the European Commission is expected to designate his country a "market economy". That move would help Ukrainian exporters avoid stiff EU anti-dumping duties on such sensitive commodities as steel and fertilisers.