Brussels, 20/03/2015 (Agence Europe) - On Thursday 19 March, the EU heads of state and government discussed the Eastern Partnership over dinner at the European Council. This Council meeting is the last before the Eastern Partnership summit that will take place on 21-22 May.
Stating that the EU was “fully committed” to the Eastern Partnership, the Council said that the EU “will strengthen, in a differentiated way, relations with each of its six partners” (Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine). “Particular efforts should be devoted to advance cooperation in state building, mobility and people-to-people contacts, market opportunities and interconnections”, the heads of state and government add. “The next step will be to strengthen the democratic institutions of the East” said European Council President Donald Tusk. The European Council also looks forward to “the earliest possible” ratification by all member states of the association agreements and deep and comprehensive free trade areas with Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine. The agreements were signed in June (see EUROPE 11110).
The European leaders also decided to conduct “a wide-ranging debate” on the EU's southern neighbourhood at their next Council in October. They state that in this context, the ministerial meeting to be held in Barcelona on 13 April “will provide a unique opportunity to hear our southern partners' views”.
The European Commission is expected to present its review of the European neighbourhood policy (ENP) in the autumn (see EUROPE 11267). (Camille-Cerise Gessant)