On Tuesday 12 December, the Eastern Partnership (EaP) ministerial meeting took place, which saw the participation of EU foreign ministers and their counterparts from five of the six Eastern Partnership countries (Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, the Republic of Moldova and Ukraine). The meeting was chaired by the High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell, with EU Commissioner Olivér Várhelyi also in attendance.
The meeting provided an opportunity to assess the achievements of the Eastern Partnership and identify recommendations for the future of the policy. The ministers discussed areas of cooperation, such as connectivity, transport, energy, green and digital transition, and human rights, civil society, rule of law, and security matters.
The main objectives discussed were how the Eastern Partnership can continue to ensure the needs of member states and partner countries are met, what the key priorities of joint work in 2024 should be, how to accelerate the delivery of the Economic and Investment Plan for the Eastern Partnership and how to increase cooperation with regions such as Central Asia and the Western Balkans.
The ministers further agreed to step up efforts to implement the Eastern Partnership’s agenda for recovery, resilience and reform, as well as tackling the ongoing consequences of the Russian war against Ukraine for the entire region. They also expressed support for concrete deliverables for 2024, particularly in the area of regional roaming, road safety and transport.
The Eastern Partnership Civil Society Forum also addressed the ministers. Maria Daniela Lenzu, press officer for the EU, said: “The Eastern Partnership has had a positive impact on the countries of the region, and this meeting provided a great opportunity to exchange views on its achievements and plan for the future.”
At the Eastern Partnership ministerial meeting, EU foreign ministers and their counterparts from five of the six Eastern Partnership countries (Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, the Republic of Moldova and Ukraine) discussed the challenges facing the region and plans for the future of the policy.
The meeting, chaired by the High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell, and with EU Commissioner Olivér Várhelyi in attendance, provided an opportunity to assess the achievements of the Eastern Partnership and identify recommendations for the future. Areas of cooperation discussed included connectivity, transport, energy, green and digital transition, and human rights, civil society, rule of law, and security matters.
The ministers agreed to step up efforts to implement the Eastern Partnership’s agenda for recovery, resilience and reform, as well as tackling the ongoing consequences of the Russian war against Ukraine for the entire region. They also expressed support for concrete deliverables for 2024, particularly in the area of regional roaming, road safety and transport.
Maria Daniela Lenzu, press officer for the EU, said: “The Eastern Partnership has had a positive impact on the countries of the region, and this meeting provided a great opportunity to exchange views on its achievements and plan for the future.”
The Eastern Partnership Civil Society Forum also addressed the ministers during the meeting.
Derick is an experienced reporter having held multiple senior roles for large publishers across Europe. Specialist subjects include small business and financial emerging markets.