Georgia, Ukraine, Moldova address EU over future development of Eastern Partnership
The three foreign ministries published a joint letter on the margins of the Munich Security Conference yesterday. Photo: ukrinform
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Foreign Ministers of Georgia, Ukraine and Moldova, David Zalkaliani, Vadym Prystaiko and Aureliu Ciocoi, have addressed the European Commission over the importance of “relevant financial support” for the Eastern Partnership (EaP) in the next EU Multiannual Financial Framework for 2021-2027.
The three foreign ministries published a joint letter on the margins of the Munich Security Conference yesterday.
The Foreign Ministers of the three Associated Partners called on the EU to take into account within its strategic budgetary planning for the next 7 years the scale and ambitions of the reforms, which are being implemented and planned by Ukraine, Georgia and Moldova in the process of their European integration”, the letter reads.
Міністри закордонних справ ????????, ???????? та ???????? спільно звернулися до #ЄC щодо важливості амбітної підтримки регіону «Східного партнерства»: https://t.co/4Sddm6LAfx
— MFA of Ukraine ???????? (@MFA_Ukraine) February 15, 2020
In this regard, the Ministers stressed the importance to ensure increased resources for the needs of the EaP states in the EU Multiannual Financial Framework “that would correspond to their European commitments and priorities of relations with the EU”.
The joint address of the Ministers is another sign of unity of Ukraine, Georgia and Moldova in their approaches to future development of the Eastern Partnership, based on the differentiation principle, as well as to the idea of enhanced dialogue in the «EU + 3 Associated Partners» format”, they said.
The European Union's Eastern Partnership initiative unites six Eastern European countries Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, the Republic of Moldova and Ukraine, aimed to support democracy, prosperity and stability in the region.
Georgia has been recognised as the leader of the EaP initiative with its achievements.
US Secretary of Defence Mark Esper has praised Georgia’s contribution to international peace and security and expressed his support for Georgia’s territorial integrity while meeting with Georgian PM Giorgi Gakharia during the 56th Munich Security Conference earlier today. “Successful bilateral cooperation was underlined at the meeting, along with a significant support of the US in the implementation of reforms in the defense and security fields,” the government of Georgia press office reports.
Georgia, Ukraine and Moldova, three Eastern Partnership countries, have signed a joint statement on the creation of a format of the EU plus the three countries for sectoral integration in transport, energy and other fields and to have full access to four liberties of the EU - free movement of goods, services, capital and the labour force. The statement, which has been signed earlier today on the sidelines of the OSCE Ministerial Council in Bratislava, has been handed to a High Representative of the EU.
The Batumi 16th International Conference, dedicated to the 10th anniversary of the EU’s Eastern Partnership initiative, will open tomorrow with an “unprecedented number” of foreign guests, including the president of the European Council Donald Tusk, Georgian Foreign Ministry reports.
The Georgian delegation led by Prime Minister Giorgi Gakharia and comprised of Vice PM Tea Tsulukiani, Foreign Minister David Zalkaliani and Defence Minister Irakli Garibashvili, held meetings on the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference, which was held on February 14-16.
US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo mentioned the Russian occupation of Georgia in his speech at the Munich Security Conference yesterday. "Russia has seized Crimea and parts of Eastern Ukraine and Georgia", Pompeo stated.
Georgian President Salome Zurabishvili and Foreign Minister David Zalkaliani joined other world leaders in condemning the recent attacks by the Russia-backed forces in Eastern Ukraine.
Paul L. Vandoren, a former EU Ambassador to Croatia and former acting EU Ambassador to Russia says that the EU is likely to acknowledge Georgia’s progress made to the EU on the June 18th Eastern Partnership Summit, adding that it is hard to say what terminology will be used to describe Georgia’s prospects for EU membership.
The European Parliament has adopted a resolution in the run up to the June 19 Eastern Partnership Summit, providing recommendations to the European Council, Commission, vice president of the European Commission and High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy on the Eastern Partnership.
Former Secretary General of NATO Anders Fog Rasmussen says that Georgia has already fulfilled the criteria for NATO membership.
President of the European Council Charles Michel will visit Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine next week.
Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili met with the President of the European Council Charles Michel in Tbilisi earlier today. Garibashvili has stated that Michel’s visit ‘is a clear reiteration that our region has a strategic importance for the EU.’ He also said that the visit ‘demonstrates the strong support and partnership of the EU.’
The importance of the European Union's ongoing support for the Eastern Partnership states, and a "shared vision" of Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine of their membership in the EU were among the messages in opening speeches of presidents Maia Sandu and Volodymyr Zelensky at this year's Batumi International Conference on Monday.
The latest edition of Batumi International Conference, a discussion platform involving European Union and Eastern Partnership states, has launched in Georgia's Black Sea city of Batumi on Monday.
Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili has opened the Batumi International Conference - Georgia’s European Way and stated that the implementation of the Association Agreement (AA) remains at the top of the Georgian Government’s agenda.
Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili has met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and discussed regional security issues. Volodymyr Zelensky arrived in Georgia on July 19 to attend the 17th Batumi International Conference - Georgia's European Way.