Brussels, 20/12/2013 (Agence Europe) - Welcoming the initialling of the association agreements by Georgia and Moldova at the Eastern Partnership summit in Vilnius on 29 November - agreements which include deep and comprehensive free-trade areas - the European Council reaffirmed the EU's resolve on 20 December to sign these agreements “as soon as possible” and “not later than August 2014”. “We are going to be at the sides of these countries in their choice, and we are ready to accelerate signing these agreements with them”, said European Council President Herman Van Rompuy.
Until now, signing the agreements had been spoken about for autumn 2014, under the mandate of the current Commission - in other words, before the end of October 2014. The texts of the agreements first need to be translated into the official languages of the EU and of the partner countries. (CG/transl.fl)