Brussels, 23/07/2013 (Agence Europe) - On Monday 22 July, High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Catherine Ashton said, at the end of the Eastern Partnership ministerial meeting, that with the participation of the six partner countries for the first time (Belarus, Ukraine, Georgia, Moldova, Armenia and Azerbaijan) “efforts must continue so that the summit will represent a milestone in the relationship between the EU and partner countries”. She stated that “important” progress has already been achieved.
In her spokesperson's press release, Ashton added that “provided that the remaining steps will be taken in the weeks ahead, the Vilnius summit would be a summit of delivery - both in terms of political association and economic integration”. The European Union wants the summit to be a success, but this greatly depends of the partner countries which need to deliver on their commitments, Ashton stated during the meeting. Ukraine could sign an association agreement with the EU, and Georgia, Moldova and Armenia could initial theirs.
Belarus' Foreign Affairs Minister Vladimir Makei (whose visa freeze has been suspended) called for all the partner countries to be dealt with in the same way - on the basis of non-discrimination. Furthermore, in Makei's view, one of the main components of the summit statement should be the activity projects. “If there are concrete activities, this will help improve the vision of the Eastern Partnership in all the member states and the partner countries”, he added.
As well as the preparation for the summit, the ministers also discussed post-Vilnius. “Life for many of them [the partner countries], should begin after 2013. The integration process with the EU should just be beginning”, stated Lithuania's Foreign Affairs Minister Linas Linkevicius (our translation). (CG/transl.fl)