MEPs want more concrete EU action to support eastern partners

European Parliament (MEPs) welcomes the initialing of political and trade agreements with Georgia at the Vilnius summit and hope they can be signed as soon as possible, say MEPs in a resolution adopted on December 12.

MEPs call on the European Commission to ensure that the citizens of Georgia enjoy some tangible benefits from the deals in the short term.

The resolution reads that the outcome of the Vilnius Eastern Partnership (EaP) summit of 29 November shows that the EU must do more to support the European aspirations of its eastern partners.

"MEPs urge the December EU Council to send a strong political signal that the door to the EU is still open, despite Ukraine's failure to sign the association agreement, MEP released.

The resolution says the EU must use all the tools it has, including aid, trade, visa waivers and energy-security projects in a "more strategic and flexible policy" to support its eastern partners choosing to strengthen their ties with Europe.

The resolution also calls Russia to keep out. In particularly, the parliament "rejects very firmly" any proposal to include Russia in association arrangements between the EU and its eastern partners.

The political crisis started in Ukraine after the official Kiev refused to sign the Association Agreement (AA) with EU in Vilnius Summit on November 28-29 which was followed mass rallies. Ukrainian pro-Europe demonstrators vowed to stay on the streets and continue their blockade of government buildings until the government signs the AA agreement.