Brussels, 24/07/2012 (Agence Europe) - The EU and its Eastern Partnership partners (Ukraine, Belarus, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia and Moldavia) adopted their roadmap during their third ministerial meeting. This will help steer and monitor implementation of Partnership objectives until the next summit in autumn 2013 in Vilnius.
This roadmap aims to, “put the 'more for more principle' into practice” and consists of two phases. The bilateral phase is divided into three poles: - political association and economic integration, with association agreements and far reaching comprehensive free trade areas; - “greater mobility for citizens in a safe environment”, with progress made on visas; - enhancing sectoral cooperation in areas such as partner countries' participation in EU agencies and programmes, energy, transport, freedom, security, justice, the environment, climate change, regional development, agriculture and rural development. The multilateral aspect is also expected to help support and strengthen bilateral objectives.
Discussions regarding Partnership progress
During their discussion, ministers also discussed concerns regarding the values and principles of freedom, democracy, respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms, as well as the rule of law and conflicts affecting the region. The talks also touched on progress in areas such as association agreements, far-reaching and comprehensive free trade zones, visa facilitation and the launch of co-operation in new areas such as public administration reform, transport, migration and asylum.
The commissioner for neighbourhood policy, Stefan Füle, underlined that this meeting was, “an important step toward to joint ownership of partnership”. Catherine Ashton, the High Representative for Foreign Policy said that, “Today's discussions will enable us to better tailor our policy toward partner countries so that we can keep the Partnership as inclusive as possible. This will also help us to accommodate specific needs and ambitions of those who are the most advanced on the implementation of the agreed goals”. Ukrainian minister, Konstantin Gryshchenko, said that this, “kind of exchange is the basis for reflection and practical action”. (CG/trans/fl)