Foreign Ministers of Ukraine, Georgia, and Moldova to Make First Visit to Brussels in Associated Trio Format

Today, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Dmytro Kuleba; Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Georgia David Zalkaliani; and Acting Prime Minister, Minister of Foreign Affairs and European Integration of the Republic of Moldova Aureliu Cioco will make a first joint visit to the EU institutions in Brussels in the format of the Associated Trio.

The chief diplomats of Ukraine, Georgia, and Moldova will present a common strategic vision for the further development of the Associated Trio trilateral format to the European Union.

The key topics of the talks will be the European integration of the three countries, opportunities for further liberalisation of trade relations, new promising areas of sectoral cooperation with the EU, in particular in the context of the European Green Deal, and the digital transition.

The parties will also coordinate positions on security threats in the region and exchange views on preparations for the Eastern Partnership summit in December 2021.

Background: Ukraine, Georgia, and Moldova signed a memorandum on the establishment of the Associated Trio on 17 May 2021 in Kyiv. The document emphasises the European aspirations of the three EU associate partners and their ambitions to become members of the European Union. The Associated Trio is a trilateral format in which Ukraine, Georgia, and Moldova coordinate their European integration efforts.

The Eastern Partnership, an EU initiative that develops the eastern direction of the European Neighbourhood Policy, was launched in 2009. It includes Ukraine, Georgia, Moldova, Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Belarus.

Natalia Tolub