The EU is satisfied with the Eastern Partnership policy

The Council of the European Union adopted conclusions on the development of the Eastern Partnership after 2020, reaffirming the strategic importance of this program.

The relevant notice is published on the website of the European Council.

In the document, the EU Council welcomed the significant achievements of the Eastern Partnership and reaffirmed the stimulus-based approach as a means of encouraging partner countries in the East to pursue reforms and step up their efforts in this direction.

The EU Council reaffirmed that the current framework conditions for this policy, including the “20 achievements by 2020” package, remain in place and are continuing to provide significant results.

Mykola Tochytskyy expressed confidence that the conclusions on the development of the Eastern Partnership are “a good basis for the forthcoming Eastern Partnership summit, during which we will work to strengthen the relevant political and sectoral signals.”

At the same time, strong emphasis is placed on the fundamental values ​​of the Eastern Partnership, including democracy, respect for human rights, the rule of law, the good governance system, a successful anti-corruption policy, and economic reforms, overcoming challenges in environmental protection, climate change, and energy, digital transformation and investment in human potential development.

In addition, the EU Council considered preparations for the next Eastern Partnership summit, which plans to review the results achieved since the last summit in 2017 and present long-term policy goals for the future, identify ways forward in further strengthening and deepening cooperation, and provide a mandate to work with the preparation of new goals.

Mykola Tochytskyy, Ukraine’s representative to the EU, told Interfax-Ukraine that the decision of the Council of the European Union includes such key signals for Kyiv as EU support for European aspirations and European choice, territorial integrity and peaceful settlement of conflicts, further integration with the EU and access to the internal market of the European Union.

The diplomat expressed confidence that the conclusions on the development of the Eastern Partnership are “a good basis for the forthcoming Eastern Partnership summit, during which we will work to strengthen the relevant political and sectoral signals.”

It will be recalled that the Eastern Partnership is a program aimed at deepening and strengthening the EU’s relations with its six eastern neighbors: Azerbaijan, Armenia, Belarus, Georgia, Moldova, and Ukraine.