On Wednesday 27 June, the Moldovan co-president of Euronest, Marian Lupu, assessed the progress on the European path made by the Eastern partners of the European Union over the last year and a half – the period during which Moldova has been the co-president of the Euronest parliamentary assembly (an assembly formed from members of the European Parliament and of the parliaments of Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine).
Lupu considered the priorities of the Moldovan presidency, which will come to an end in December this year, as a success. In particular, he underlined the transformation of the ad hoc working group bringing together the three countries associated to the European Union (Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine) into a large interparliamentary assembly. This strategic accomplishment "allowed to unify efforts to better coordinate, use common experience and make more efficient the European path", Lupu said.
He also made a positive assessment of the inclusion of the Eastern partnership in the agenda of the European Parliament plenary, and of the joint participation of the Eastern partners in the November summit (see EUROPE 11912).
By contrast, Lupu regretted the lack of progress in coming closer to the parliament of Belarus, which will remain on the agenda of the next Ukrainian co-presidency.
In addition, the other co-presidency representative, Rebecca Harms (Greens/EFA, Germany) from the European Parliament, underlined the appearance of new problems in the relationship between the EU and the Eastern partners, such as the invalidation of elections in Chisinau (see EUROPE 12050) or the disputes over macro-financial aid in Ukraine (see EUROPE 12040).
Assembly's conclusions. During the session that was held in Brussels on 26-27 June, Euronest adopted several resolutions on regional security, foreign direct investment (FDI), energy efficiency and undeclared work.
The parliamentarians called for European mediation to be stepped up in the so-called "frozen" conflicts. They asked the Commission and member states to help the development of national plans to attract FDI in partner countries, and they recommended the fight against undeclared work be stepped up.
The assembly also showed concern about the North Stream 2 project, which could worsen eastern countries' energy dependence.
"We worked in a very constructive manner, not without some tensions, but we were able to meet the challenge", Harms stated. (Original version in French by Carmen García)