– EASTERN PARTNERSHIP – FROM PRAGUE TO RIGA

SUPPORTING REFORMS, PROMOTING CHANGE

What is it?

The Eastern Partnership (EaP) is a joint initiative of the EU and its Eastern European partners: Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, the Republic of Moldova and Ukraine. Launched in 2009 at the Prague Summit, it brings our Eastern European partners closer to the EU. The Eastern Partnership supports and encourages reforms in the EaP countries for the benefit of their citizens.

The Partnership is based on a commitment to the principles of international law and fundamental values, including democracy, rule of law and respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms, as well as to a market economy, sustainable development and good governance. The Partnership is founded on mutual interests and commitments as well as shared ownership and mutual accountability.

Eastern Partnership involves the EU and its partner countries:

• ARMENIA

• AZERBAIJAN

• BELARUS

• GEORGIA

• REPUBLIC OF MOLDOVA

• UKRAINE

Eastern Partnership Multilateral Platforms

FLAGSHIP INITIATIVES:

- border management

- civil protection

Platform 4Contacts betweenpeople

PANELS:

- research and innovation

Platform 1Democracy andrule of law

PANELS:

- border management

- anti-corruption

- public administration reform

- asylum and migration

- justice reform

- CSDP

Platform 2Economic integrationand convergence withEU Policies

FLAGSHIP INITIATIVES:

- SMEs

- environment governance

PANELS:

- SMEs

- trade

- environment and climate change

- agriculture

- transport

- statistics

Platform 3Energy Security

FLAGSHIP INITIATIVES:

- energy

Multilateral cooperation

Many of the challenges partner countries face are shared ones. Addressing them jointly promotes cooperation and the exchange of best practice. Multilateral cooperation in the Eastern Partnership takes place across a wide array of issues, ranging from democracy, good governance and stability to economic issues, energy security and contacts between people. This work is guided by four thematic platforms, supported by various expert panels, flagship initiatives and projects.

A number of flagship initiatives gives a particular focus to the cooperation in the areas of integrated border management, small and medium-sized enterprises, energy efficiency, environmental protection, disaster risk management and sustainablemunicipal development.

Differentiation and inclusivity

The EU is committed to having a strong and mutually beneficial cooperation with all six partners, whatever the individual level of ambition in their relations with the EU.

The Association Agreements/Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Areas (AA/DCFTAs) concluded in 2014 have brought the relations between the EU and Georgia, the Republic of Moldova and Ukraine to a new level. These agreements aim at strengthened political association and economic integration. They constitute a plan of reforms that will bring the partner countries closer to the EU by aligning their legislation and standards to the EU ones, and improve peoples’ lives in a tangible way.

A more differentiated and tailored approach to relations with Armenia, Azerbaijan and Belarus will help ensure the inclusive nature of the Eastern Partnership. Armenia’s closer political association and economic cooperation with the EU will take account of Armenia’s other international commitments. The EU is discussing a closer relationship with Azerbaijan, which reflects our respective interests and values. The EU is also deepening, in carefully calibrated mutual steps, its critical engagement with Belarus.

Eastern Partnership milestones:

• 2009: LAUNCH OF EAP, SUMMIT IN PRAGUE

• 2011: SUMMIT IN WARSAW

• 2013: SUMMIT IN VILNIUS

• 2014: AA/DCFTAS WITH GEORGIA, MOLDOVA, UKRAINE

• 2015: SUMMIT IN RIGA

State building and rule of law

Cooperation under the Eastern Partnership helps partner countries to strengthen their resilience in the face of new challenges to their stability. The rule of law, independent judiciary, effective prevention and tackling of corruption, public administration reform are essential for the modernisation of the partner countries and their ability to withstand pressure. Stronger cooperation in State building, including civilian security sector reform, civil protection and disaster management will help to address any destabilising impact of emergencies and crises, and foster resilience.

Mobility and people-to-people contacts The enhanced mobility of citizens in a secure and well- managed environment remains a core objective of the Eastern Partnership. A visa-free regime is already in place since April 2014 for citizens of the Republic of Moldova possessing biometric passports. Implementation of Visa Liberalisation Action Plans is underway in Georgia and Ukraine. The EU already has Visa Facilitation Agreements and Readmission Agreements in place with five of its Eastern European partners. These agreements allow for more affordable visas and simpler application process. Negotiations with Belarus are expected to be concluded in the near future.

Market opportunities

The Association Agreements / Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Areas boost trade with the partner countries concerned. For both Georgia and the Republic of Moldova, provisional application of the DCFTA has successfully developed trade with the EU already in 2014. The provisional application of the DCFTA for Ukraine has been postponed until 1/1/2016. In the meantime, the EU unilaterally granted trade preferences to Ukraine. The EU helps small businesses grow and prepare for the market opportunities with the EU through various ongoing cooperation programmes. In addition, a new initiative - the DCFTA Facility - will support small businesses in Ukraine, Georgia and Moldova. Digital economy is a new area of cooperation with yet untapped potential for both the EU and partner countries.

Interconnections

Better energy infrastructure and the energy security of partner countries is a key element of the EU cooperation with the EaP countries. For example, new electricity and gas connections between Romania and the Republic of Mol-dova illustrate the importance of this work. The contribution of Azerbaijan and other countries towards enabling the Southern Gas Corridor is another key development. The Eastern Partnership transport network helps making transport links between the EU and partner countries safer and more efficient, thus contributing to increased trade and economic prosperity for citizens.

More information:

www.eeas.europa.eu/eastern/index_en.htm

ec.europa.eu/enlargement/neighbourhood/eastern-partnership/

index_en.htm

www.enpi-info.eu/indexeast.php

Financial cooperation

The European Neighbourhood Instrument (ENI) is the main source of funding for the implementation of the European Neighbourhood Policy and the Eastern Partnership in the period 2014-2020. It replaces the European Neighbourhood and Partnership Instrument (ENPI) – the main instrument for the region in 2007-2013. Overall, EUR 3.2 billion has been made available to the EaP countries since the launch of the Partnership up to now: nearly EUR 2.5 billion from the ENPI in 2010-2013 and EUR 730 million from the ENI in 2014.

In 2014, major budgetary support was mobilised to help stabilise Ukraine’s economy. The EU was also able to plan new investments in Georgia and the Republic of Moldova in order to help small businesses grow and prepare for the market opportunities of the Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Areas with the EU. The EU worked together with European banks and local financial institutions to make loan- financing more accessible for private investors, including small businesses and families. Many of the new programmes have already begun; others will kick-off with concrete activities on the ground over the course of 2015.

In parallel, the EU continued to implement programmes launched in previous years. Technical experts and advisers worked with their Eastern European counterparts to design new policy frameworks, prepare new legislation, and introduce new practices. Civil society organisations received grants for monitoring national reforms and work-ing with vulnerable groups. The private sector accessed business incubators and new lending opportunities; small farm owners created new business-oriented associations; and students obtained new skills so as to be better prepared for the modern labour market.

Involvement of broader society

The Eastern Partnership involves not only governments but also broader society. The Eastern Partnership Civil Society Forum ensures that the views of civil society are taken into account, whilst the Conference of Local and Regional Authorities for the Eastern Partnership brings the valuable perspective of local and regional authorities closest to the citizens. The EURONEST Parliamentary Assembly provides a platform for parliamentary debate in support of the Eastern Partnership. The Eastern Partnership Business Forum harnesses the opinion of business leaders at all evels in order to develop commercial links and to ensure that economic and trade opportunities are fully utilised.

Eastern Partnership facts and figures:

•EUR 3.2 BILLION AVAILABLE TO PARTNER COUNTRIES SINCE THE LAUNCH OF THE EAP

•ENPI – EUROPEAN NEIGHBOURHOOD AND PARTNERSHIP INSTRUMENT: MAIN FINANCIAL INSTRUMENT IN 2007-2013

•ENI – EUROPEAN NEIGHBOURHOOD INSTRUMENT: MAIN FINANCIAL INSTRUMENT IN 2014-2020

• BUDGET 2010-2013: €2,5 BILLION FROM THE EUROPEAN NEIGHBOURHOOD AND PARTNERSHIP INSTRUMENT

•BUDGET 2014: €730 MILLION FROM THE

EUROPEAN NEIGHBOURHOOD INSTRUMENT