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Eap Riga 2015 en

The Eastern Partnership is a joint initiative between the EU and six Eastern European countries - Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine. Launched in 2009, it aims to bring these countries closer to the EU by supporting political and economic reforms. It operates through multilateral platforms focused on democracy, economic integration, energy security, and contacts between people. The EU has committed over 3 billion euros to programs supporting reforms in these countries since 2009.

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116 views4 pages

Eap Riga 2015 en

The Eastern Partnership is a joint initiative between the EU and six Eastern European countries - Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine. Launched in 2009, it aims to bring these countries closer to the EU by supporting political and economic reforms. It operates through multilateral platforms focused on democracy, economic integration, energy security, and contacts between people. The EU has committed over 3 billion euros to programs supporting reforms in these countries since 2009.

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Ivanna Volochiy
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EASTERN PARTNERSHIP

FROM PRAGUE TO RIGA


SUPPORTING REFORMS, PROMOTING CHANGE

What is it?
The Eastern Partnership (EaP) is a joint initiative of the EU
and its Eastern European partners: Armenia, Azerbaijan,
Belarus, Georgia, the Republic of Moldova and Ukraine.
Launched in 2009 at the Prague Summit, it brings our
Eastern European partners closer to the EU. The Eastern
Partnership supports and encourages reforms in the EaP
countries for the benefit of their citizens.
The Partnership is based on a commitment to the principles
of international law and fundamental values, including
democracy, rule of law and respect for human rights
and fundamental freedoms, as well as to a market economy,
sustainable development and good governance.
The Partnership is founded on mutual interests and
commitments as well as shared ownership and mutual
accountability.

Eastern Partnership involves the EU


and its partner countries:
ARMENIA
AZERBAIJAN
BELARUS
GEORGIA
REPUBLIC OF MOLDOVA
UKRAINE

Differentiation and inclusivity


The EU is committed to having a strong and mutually
beneficial cooperation with all six partners, whatever the
individual level of ambition in their relations with the EU.
The Association Agreements/Deep and Comprehensive
Free Trade Areas (AA/DCFTAs) concluded in 2014 have
brought the relations between the EU and Georgia, the
Republic of Moldova and Ukraine to a new level. These
agreements aim at strengthened political association and
economic integration. They constitute a plan of reforms that
will bring the partner countries closer to the EU by aligning
their legislation and standards to the EU ones, and improve
peoples lives in a tangible way.
A more differentiated and tailored approach to relations
with Armenia, Azerbaijan and Belarus will help ensure the
inclusive nature of the Eastern Partnership. Armenias
closer political association and economic cooperation with
the EU will take account of Armenias other international
commitments. The EU is discussing a closer relationship
with Azerbaijan, which reflects our respective interests and
values. The EU is also deepening, in carefully calibrated
mutual steps, its critical engagement with Belarus.

Eastern Partnership milestones:


2009: LAUNCH OF EAP, SUMMIT IN PRAGUE
2011: SUMMIT IN WARSAW
2013: SUMMIT IN VILNIUS
2014: AA/DCFTAS WITH GEORGIA, MOLDOVA,
UKRAINE
2015: SUMMIT IN RIGA

Eastern Partnership Multilateral Platforms


Platform 1

Democracy and
rule of law

Platform 2

Economic integration
and convergence with
EU Policies

Platform 3

Energy Security

Platform 4

Contacts between
people

PANELS:

PANELS:

PANELS:

- border management

- SMEs

- research and innovation

- anti-corruption

- trade

- public administration reform

- environment and climate change

- asylum and migration

- agriculture

- justice reform

- transport

- CSDP

- statistics

FLAGSHIP INITIATIVES:

FLAGSHIP INITIATIVES:

FLAGSHIP INITIATIVES:

- border management

- SMEs

- energy

- civil protection

- environment governance

Multilateral cooperation
Many of the challenges partner countries face are shared ones. Addressing them jointly promotes cooperation and the exchange
of best practice. Multilateral cooperation in the Eastern Partnership takes place across a wide array of issues, ranging from
democracy, good governance and stability to economic issues, energy security and contacts between people. This work is
guided by four thematic platforms, supported by various expert panels, flagship initiatives and projects.
A number of flagship initiatives gives a particular focus to the cooperation in the areas of integrated border management,
small and medium-sized enterprises, energy efficiency, environmental protection, disaster risk management and sustainable
municipal development.

State building and rule of law


Cooperation under the Eastern Partnership helps partner
countries to strengthen their resilience in the face of new
challenges to their stability. The rule of law, independent
judiciary, effective prevention and tackling of corruption,
public administration reform are essential for the
modernisation of the partner countries and their ability to
withstand pressure. Stronger cooperation in State building,
including civilian security sector reform, civil protection and
disaster management will help to address any destabilising
impact of emergencies and crises, and foster resilience.

Mobility and people-to-people contacts

The enhanced mobility of citizens in a secure and wellmanaged environment remains a core objective of the
Eastern Partnership. A visa-free regime is already in place
since April 2014 for citizens of the Republic of Moldova
possessing biometric passports. Implementation of Visa
Liberalisation Action Plans is underway in Georgia and
Ukraine. The EU already has Visa Facilitation Agreements
and Readmission Agreements in place with five of its
Eastern European partners. These agreements allow for
more affordable visas and simpler application process.
Negotiations with Belarus are expected to be concluded
in the near future.

Market opportunities
The Association Agreements / Deep and Comprehensive
Free Trade Areas boost trade with the partner countries
concerned. For both Georgia and the Republic of Moldova,
provisional application of the DCFTA has successfully
developed trade with the EU already in 2014. The
provisional application of the DCFTA for Ukraine has been
postponed until 1/1/2016. In the meantime, the EU
unilaterally granted trade preferences to Ukraine. The EU
helps small businesses grow and prepare for the market
opportunities with the EU through various ongoing
cooperation programmes. In addition, a new initiative - the
DCFTA Facility - will support small businesses in Ukraine,
Georgia and Moldova. Digital economy is a new area of
cooperation with yet untapped potential for both the EU and
partner countries.

Interconnections
Better energy infrastructure and the energy security of
partner countries is a key element of the EU cooperation
with the EaP countries. For example, new electricity and
gas connections between Romania and the Republic of Moldova illustrate the importance of this work. The contribution
of Azerbaijan and other countries towards enabling the
Southern Gas Corridor is another key development. The
Eastern Partnership transport network helps making
transport links between the EU and partner countries safer
and more efficient, thus contributing to increased trade and
economic prosperity for citizens.

Financial cooperation
The European Neighbourhood Instrument (ENI) is the main
source of funding for the implementation of the European
Neighbourhood Policy and the Eastern Partnership in the
period 2014-2020. It replaces the European Neighbourhood
and Partnership Instrument (ENPI) the main instrument
for the region in 2007-2013. Overall, EUR 3.2 billion has been
made available to the EaP countries since the launch of the
Partnership up to now: nearly EUR 2.5 billion from the ENPI
in 2010-2013 and EUR 730 million from the ENI in 2014.
In 2014, major budgetary support was mobilised to help
stabilise Ukraines economy. The EU was also able to plan new
investments in Georgia and the Republic of Moldova in order
to help small businesses grow and prepare for the market
opportunities of the Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade
Areas with the EU. The EU worked together with
European banks and local financial institutions to make
loan- financing more accessible for private investors,
including small businesses and families. Many of the new
programmes have already begun; others will kick-off with
concrete activities on the ground over the course of 2015.
In parallel, the EU continued to implement programmes
launched in previous years. Technical experts and advisers
worked with their Eastern European counterparts to design
new policy frameworks, prepare new legislation, and
introduce new practices. Civil society organisations
received grants for monitoring national reforms and working with vulnerable groups. The private sector accessed
business incubators and new lending opportunities; small
farm owners created new business-oriented associations;
and students obtained new skills so as to be better prepared
for the modern labour market.

Eastern Partnership facts and figures:


EUR 3.2 BILLION AVAILABLE TO PARTNER
COUNTRIES SINCE THE LAUNCH OF THE EAP
ENPI EUROPEAN NEIGHBOURHOOD
AND PARTNERSHIP INSTRUMENT: MAIN
FINANCIAL INSTRUMENT IN 2007-2013
ENI EUROPEAN NEIGHBOURHOOD
INSTRUMENT: MAIN FINANCIAL INSTRUMENT
IN 2014-2020
BUDGET 2010-2013: 2,5 BILLION FROM
THE EUROPEAN NEIGHBOURHOOD AND
PARTNERSHIP INSTRUMENT
BUDGET 2014: 730 MILLION FROM THE
EUROPEAN NEIGHBOURHOOD INSTRUMENT

Involvement of broader society


The Eastern Partnership involves not only governments but
also broader society. The Eastern Partnership Civil Society
Forum ensures that the views of civil society are taken into
account, whilst the Conference of Local and Regional
Authorities for the Eastern Partnership brings the valuable
perspective of local and regional authorities closest to the
citizens. The EURONEST Parliamentary Assembly provides
a platform for parliamentary debate in support of the
Eastern Partnership. The Eastern Partnership Business
Forum harnesses the opinion of business leaders at all
evels in order to develop commercial links and to ensure
that economic and trade opportunities are fully utilised.

More information:
www.eeas.europa.eu/eastern/index_en.htm
ec.europa.eu/enlargement/neighbourhood/eastern-partnership/
index_en.htm
www.enpi-info.eu/indexeast.php

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