About: Eastern Partnership
Georgia’s NATO future resurfaces during Russia conflict anniversary
Foreign affairs chiefs from Poland, Lithuania, Latvia and Ukraine met in Georgia this week to take part in commemorations marking 10 years since Russia’s invasion of the Caucasus Republic during 2008's August War.
EU and Azerbaijan agree ‘Partnership Priorities’
A milestone in EU-Azerbaijan relations was reached in Brussels yesterday (11 July), with the end of negotiations of the EU-Azerbaijan Partnership Priorities in the presence of President of the European Council, Donald Tusk, and the President of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev.
MEP Nicolai: European Parliament is sometimes arrogant with EU’s neighbours
The EU has already failed in the Mediterranean and is hardly a relevant player there. Now it risks being isolated if it repeats the same mistake with its Eastern neighbours, Norica Nicolai, the European Parliament Rapporteur on the EU-Azerbaijan Comprehensive Agreement, told EURACTIV.
Ukraine says DCFTAs outdated, need deep review
One of the key messages from the EURACTIV debate on the Eastern Partnership – “Georgia, Moldova, Ukraine and the EU: The Road to 2020” held on March 20 in Brussels was that the Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Agreements with these countries need a revamp.
Borissov: My sentiment is there will be a hard Brexit
Bulgarian Prime Minister Boyko Borissov told reporters on Friday (24 November) his personal feeling was that things were moving in the direction of a hard Brexit. He spoke at the Eastern Partnership summit in Brussels, barely a month before his country is due to take over the rotating Presidency of the Council of the EU.
Leaders gather for low-key EU Eastern Partnership summit
Leaders from the EU and six former Soviet states meet in Brussels today (24 November) for the latest summit aimed at deepening ties, but thorny subjects like Russian influence and the war in Ukraine are off the agenda.
EU hesitates to recognise Kazakhstan as European
Kazakhstan is searching for a post-Soviet identity somewhere between its traditional Kazakh and Turkish cultures, Europe and multiculturalism, diplomats have told EURACTIV. But Europe has been slow to forge closer ties with the young country, despite its strategic location and potential.
V4 no longer a role model for Eastern Partnership countries
Experts have warned that Visegrad countries, haunted by a wave of Euroscepticism and populism, can no longer aspire to be role models and “export” their experience with democratic transition to the Eastern Partnership countries. EURACTIV Slovakia reports.
Armenia urged to ‘do homework’ to prepare for visa-free travel
Armenia’s government has been urged to start “internal preparations” for visa liberalisation, the process for which could be started at a summit in November.
Report: EU capacity to promote ‘values’ in the developing world declining
To say the EU’s ability to promote values through external action is declining may be an understatement. This time the observation is made in a report aimed at improving and making more coherent Union diplomacy and the way the bloc's taxpayer money is spent.
EU to launch negotiations for a new agreement with Azerbaijan
EU foreign ministers decided today (14 November) to start negotiating a comprehensive agreement with Azerbaijan, replacing the Association agreement proposed in 2010, which had omitted to take into account Baku’s view about the future of relations.
EU ministers redefine policy with Russia, Eastern neighbours
The foreign ministers of the 28 EU countries have redefined yesterday (17 October) the Union foreign policy priorities for 2016 and the basis of its relations with Russia and the countries of the Eastern neighbourhood.
Auditors expose failures in EU assistance to Moldova
The European Court of Auditors published a very critical assessment today (1 September) of the way the Commission spends EU money in Moldova, a country associated with the EU and with an ambition to join the Union in the longer term.
Release of jailed journalist signals improvement of Azerbaijan-EU relations
Azerbaijan yesterday (25 May) released jailed investigative journalist Khadija Ismayilova, who was convicted of corruption charges last year, prompting reactions welcoming the country’s move toward press freedom and rule of law.
Valdai and EPC think-tanks discuss EU-Russia’s ‘new normal’
The Russian ‘Valdai Club’ and the European Policy Centre, a Brussels think tank, failed to agree yesterday (17 May) on ways to move forward EU-Russia relations - instead comparing the ‘new normal’ of the relationship with the grey skies that Brussels residents have no other choice but to accept.
EPP takes strong position against Nord Stream 2
The centre-right European Peoples’ Party (EPP), the largest group in the European Parliament, has taken a strong position against Nord Stream 2, a Gazprom-favoured project to bring additional Russian gas from Russia to Germany under the Baltic Sea.
Azerbaijan’s rejection of EU association was an eye-opener for Brussels
Azerbaijan is the best example that the one-size-fits-all approach of the EU vis-à-vis its neighbours does not work, a Commission official admitted to an audience in Brussels.
Russia tells EU to abandon ‘messianic’ project of exporting democracy
A prominent Russian diplomat has called on the EU to abandon his “messianic” project of exporting democracy and instead solve its problems together with Russia, and not at its expense.
Tiny EU task force set up to counter Russian propaganda
A small group of eight officials in the European External Action Service will engage in efforts to respond to massive Russian propaganda directed both at the home and international audiences.
Tusk tour focuses on frozen conflicts
Council President Donald Tusk's trip to the South Caucasus has largely focused on the 'frozen conflicts' in Nagorno-Karabakh, Abkhazia and South Ossetia.
Merkel tells Eastern partners not to expect too much
German Chancellor Angela Merkel told the EU's eastern partners yesterday (21 May) not to expect too much of the bloc and warned Russia to mend its ways over Ukraine if it wanted to rejoin the G7.
Ukraine wants roadmap to EU accession at Riga summit
Ukraine's foreign minister said his country wants assurances at a summit with the European Union this week that it is a suitable candidate for EU membership, and that its citizens will gain visa-free travel to the bloc next year.
Two tier Eastern Partnership on the table at Riga summit
The EU plans to strengthen relations with Ukraine, Moldova and Georgia, setting them apart from the other Eastern Partnership countries, Azerbaijan, Armenia and Belarus. EURACTIV France reports.