News

First Session: European and National Dynamics: Can Eastern Partnership provide new impetus for reform?

The last two waves of EU enlargement have brought Armenia and other five Eastern neighbours to the Union’s doorstep. Over the years, the EU has substantially strengthened relations with its Eastern neighbours and has supported their reform efforts. The progress is visible, but the process is not yet finished. The Eastern Partnership is a significant step forward - it finally gives us a strategy towards the East.

The difficult political, financial and economic situation in the Eastern neighbourhood, which might have long term consequences, makes the case for Eastern Partnership even stronger. The challenge is now to make it work.

EaP instruments can not be the value itself. Only by using it constructively we will have the real outcome. Partners’ initiative in defining the needs and EU’s determination to come forward with an adequate response should get the process going:  own problems – common solutions. Enhanced support from EU should be keyed up with strong will from Partners’.

EaP is a guide for getting into the process where reforms might go faster. While adjusting high ambitions to the principle of conditionality our Eastern neighbours can work out a road-map for domestic reforms bringing them closer to the EU. Improved domestic situation gives Partners instruments that Eastern Partnership has to offer and which at the same time provide a response to partner’s aspirations for closer relations.

To make Eastern Partnership a real success, cooperation among governments and governmental agencies is not enough. We need contacts and exchange among parliaments, civil societies, non-governmental and youth organisations.

As you are well aware, Eastern Partnership goes beyond the current European Neighbourhood Policy and is aimed at:

-  strengthening horizontal links between neighbours and the EU.

-  providing both - a long-term vision of an enhanced EU policy and detailed world-plan.

-  bringing a tangible support for the Partners’ democratic and structural domestic reforms.

-  deepen bilateral co-operation and offer a more profound integration with the EU.

-  create a framework for multilateral co-operation complementary to the existing regional co-operation schemes.

Eastern Partnership responds to the desire of our Eastern neighbours to move closer to the EU. On the other hand, it is also in the EU’s vital interest to contribute to the development of stability, better governance and economic development at its Eastern borders.

After the Prague Summit we are ought to exploit the momentum to implement what was agreed and to guarantee the continuous attention and engagement of the EU Member States as well as the partner countries towards the Eastern Partnership.

The Eastern Partnership sets out clearly the objective of establishing deep and comprehensive free trade areas between the EU and the partner countries. It confirms visa liberalization as a goal, albeit a long term one. It offers enhanced cooperation on energy security, including increased energy efficiency, diversification of sources and increased use of renewables.

Aiming at the opening of the dialogues on visa free travel in the long term, in the meantime the examples of good cooperation between EU and Ukraine, Moldova as well as Georgia hopefully will motivate Armenia and Azerbaijan to follow.

Diversification of energy sources is the key for energy security. In this regard we see Caspian and Black Sea region as one of the most viable partners, whose potential at the moment is not duly used. Today we have an opportunity to come closer to the vision of the area of greater security between Europe and the Black and Caspian countries by implementing viable energy projects.

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We also need to ensure a full functioning of a newly established framework for multilateral cooperation and move forward implementing flagship initiatives and projects. The multilateral component of the Eastern Partnership is a common challenge for both, the EU and the Eastern partners. For the EU it is a new formula that will be tested in practice together with the neighbors. At this stage projects are, in fact, the most realistic and tangible tool for EU’s and EaP Partners’ steps towards achieving Eastern Partnership goals.

All four EaP platforms are of the same added value and participation in all four is important for the Six. There is however self-selection. Those more active would move closer to the EU and become better plugged in into the European day to day activities. And even some of them will shape their own future within the EU.

Our experience shows that the assistance is more efficient when provided through more complex projects. Lithuania‘s institutions are in the process of preparation of over 30 projects which might be implemented together with our partner countries within the framework of EaP’s thematic platforms. With our Belarusian and Ukrainian colleagues we are about to agree on a common list of projects for the EaP in the areas of customs, transport, energy, environment, social affairs and historical and cultural heritage. Both sides see it as a perfect ground for extending those projects towards other countries of the region.

Earlier this month in the Eastern Partnership Integrated Border Management panel meeting in Odessa Lithuanian experts presented projects for cooperation in the field of customs which were welcomed with a great interest by our Ukrainian colleagues and which could and should be extended also to other Partners.

We are determined to stand the pace and in the nearest future work out the common projects with Armenia as well. Lithuania’s overall ambition for the Eastern Partnership is to develop the ambitious agenda with EaP countries, to contribute to the consolidation of the multilateral framework, to participate actively in preparation and implementation of the programs and projects and to make progress in each partner’s bilateral relationship with the EU.

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European integration has proven over the years to be the best guarantor of prosperity and peace. Economic well-being requires secure environment and stability.  Interdependence in today’s world is real, as is responsibility. We should also understand that the closer our Eastern neighbours are to the EU in terms of standards, economic ties, cultural links and human contacts, the bigger are the benefits will be for both – the EaP countries and the EU.

Eastern Partnership, however, is not only about trade, energy and visa liberalization. Partner nations, if they are serious about participation in the Eastern Partnership, have to adhere to the universal values and principles – democracy, human rights and respect of territorial integrity of other countries.

We believe that a full-fledged partnership with the European Union, which is based on the principles of the rule of law, democratic political systems, respect for human rights and guaranteed freedoms of expression, is possible only when our Belarusian neighbours embrace the values and principles that represent the core of the European Union.

EU and six partner nations own EaP equally – it is not EU’s ‘façade’ initiative, nor is it partners’ business only, either. It is a common undertaking with stakes – political and otherwise - equally high for both EU27 and EaP6.

Our common goal should be to put high-sounding statements of the Prague declaration into practise. Of course, it is not a panacea for all problems in the region, but it indeed opens doors for a deeper and more intensified cooperation and creates a unified area of political stability and economic reforms for EU27 and EaP6 underpinned by the same values and principles. 

Still many questions arise today while debating what the real purpose of the Eastern Partnership is and what additional value it will bring in reality. To see good or bad sides of the EaP, we have to make it work. The development of the projects and initiatives will settle down the aspects which are raised in the questions today.

EaP should survive the test of financial crisis through sustained commitment by the EU and Partners. Commitments have to be backed by adequate resources. However, it is not only finances that would make a difference at the end of the day.

In long-term I see this common space of thirty-three – or maybe even more - nations to become truly common: with free movement of people, goods, capital and services. We are embarking now on the way with ultimate goal of a more secure, stable, stronger Europe. 

EaP stands for Enthusiasm and Possibilities. Let us keep our energy high to sweat out the maximum for a braver, bolder, brighter Europe.