Brussels, 12/12/2008 (Agence Europe) - At the European Summit in Brussels on Friday, EU heads of state welcomed the European Commission's suggestions for an 'Eastern Partnership' to boost the EU Neighbourhood Policy vis-à-vis Ukraine, Georgia, Azerbaijan, Armenia and Belarus (see EUROPE 9796). In the conclusions document, the leaders explain that the Eastern Partnership will help partner countries in their reforms, thereby contributing to their stability and rapprochement with the EU. The Council is instructed to examine the European Commission's ideas in detail and report back with the aim of endorsing this 'ambitious initiative' at the March 2009 European Council. The Eastern Partnership will then be officially launched at a summit with the participant countries to be organised by the Czech Presidency of the EU, probably in June 2009. (H.B. trans fl)