On Monday 28 November, European Commissioner for Neighbourhood Policy and Enlargement Negotiations Johannes Hahn called on civil society organisations in the Eastern Partnership countries (Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Moldova, Georgia and Ukraine) to extend within their countries and not to confine themselves only to big cities.
"There are many civil society organisations that focus on limited activities in the big cities and capitals. It is also important to reach rural areas, to cover the whole country to reach everyone and to have an inclusive approach", he said at the opening of the eighth annual Eastern Partnership Civil Society Forum.
In Hahn's view, civil society is the EU's "main partner" for conducting reforms in the Eastern Partnership. "And the EU remains civil society's precious partner", he added. "Last year we renewed our pledge to civil society support. We are making good on that promise: by the end of 2017 only targeted support to civil society will have exceeded €50million under the European Neighbourhood Instrument", Hahn announced. In 2016 the Commission has also launched grants for members of civil society from the Eastern Partnership countries.
During his speech, Hahn highlighted mobility and contact between people, particularly young people. When asked about visas, he appeared optimistic as to an agreement on the visa suspension mechanism "before Christmas", which would enable visa liberalisation for Georgia and Ukraine. "This is the most urgent subject for Georgia and Ukraine", Hahn stated. "I am confident that there will be a positive result before Christmas", he said, stating that it was less a question of substance than an institutional question. "On this particular case, the EU must keep its promises", he warned (see EUROPE 11675). (Original version in French by Camille-Cerise Gessant)