AFET Adopts Recommendations on Eastern Partnership, Calls for ‘Enhanced EU Dialogue’ with Georgia

On May 19, Members of the Foreign Affairs Committee (AFET) of the European Parliament adopted recommendations aimed at charting a new course for advancing relations with EU’s Eastern European neighbors – Georgia, Ukraine, Moldova, Azerbaijan, Armenia, and Belarus.

In a press release dated on May 20, MEPs emphasized the need to ensure that “the Eastern Partnership remains an inclusive project.”

Meanwhile, AFET members called for an “enhanced EU dialogue” with countries that have already signed Association Agreements (AAs) with a Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area – Georgia, Moldova, and Ukraine – to further advance these countries’ legislative harmonization and economic integration with the EU.

A wide range of recommendations endorsed by European lawmakers come in the run-up to the next Eastern Partnership (EaP) summit slated for June this year.

MEPs advocated putting together “a clear strategy and a long-term common vision” for further development of the Eastern Partnership.

They called for stepping up “EU commitments and political incentives” raising the cooperation “to a new level.”

MEPs also highlighted partner countries’ pledge to continue delivering reforms and seeking ways to boost relations with the European Union.

MEPs further appealed to all EU institutions and EaP countries to “work on political initiatives and processes” leading to “deepening of EU-EaP economic integration,” as well as enhancement of “democratic institutions, good governance and the rule of law, fighting corruption, disinformation and political nepotism.”

European Lawmakers underlined the need to boost cooperation – “where possible” – in the area of security and defense, while “promoting media freedom and improving transport, energy and digital connectivity between the EU and EaP countries, and among EaP countries themselves.”

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