The three South Caucasian countries Armenia, Georgia and Azerbaijan may well be on track for further developing their relations with the European Union. Today's meeting of the foreign ministers from the EU's 27 member states and of those participating in Eastern Partnership framework resulted in a paper that says negotiation with these countries on Associated EU Membership may start as early as in 2010.
EU foreign ministers' meeting with the Eastern Partnership foreign ministers today in Brussells note a recorded progress on how seriously Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Republic of Moldova and Ukraine have committed their countries to developing closer ties with the European Union. "While taking note of the progress made on both the bilateral and the multilateral tracks of the Eastern Partnership (EaP) ministers are expected to endorse the Work Programmes for 2010 elaborated by the multilateral platforms. Bilateral work on further deepening of relations is advancing well with 2010 likely to see negotiations with five EaP partner countries on association agreements," reads the release by the European Union.
The European Union says that the EU Association Agreements are only for those countries that "have made sufficient progress" towards democracy, the rule of law, respect for human rights and principles of market economy, sustainable development and good governance. Here is the status of where each country stands.
Ukraine is in the process of ongoing negotiations for Associated membership. EU will start negotiations with Moldova next year in 2010. Final work on negotiation mandates for Caucasus countries, i.e. Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia is ongoing.
The agreement envisions liberalization and eventual elimination of visa regime between these countries and the European Union as EU recognized the importance of the free mobility of people. However, these countries have to adopt the necessary legislation on readmission of their citizens.
The above is on bilateral level and is country specific. On the multilateral side thematic platforms. The countries need to further advance in democracy as well as in good governance to achieve complete stability. Other areas of mutual interest are the economic integration and convergence with EU sectoral policies, energy security and contacts between people.
Eastern Partnership Background
The Eastern Partnership completes the EU’s foreign policy towards Eastern Europe and Southern Caucasus countries as a specific Eastern dimension of the European Neighbourhood Policy (ENP). Successive enlargements of the EU brought these countries closer to the EU and led to increased political ties. The EU has an interest in helping these partner countries to address the socio-economic challenges they face and support their aspirations for closer ties, not least in the light of unresolved regional conflicts.
The Eastern Partnership will benefit from additional financial support of € 350 million for the period till 2013 which will add up to a total of € 600 million.
Written by Armen Hareyan
Source: EU Press Release
Comment and add to the story without registration, but keep the comments meaningful please. Links are not accepted.
