Four weeks after the launch of the Eastern Partnership (EaP), the EU and its eastern neighbors are getting down to work. The first EaP multilateral platform is held on June 5, in Brussels. It focuses on democracy, good governance and stability, Info-Prim Neo reports, quoting a press release from the Delegation of the European Commission to Moldova. Representatives of the six partner countries, the EU Member States, the Council Secretariat, and the European Parliament, the Committee of the Regions and the European Economic and Social Committee are participating in the working sessions. “The European Commission has wasted no time in getting this new initiative off the ground. The launch of the multilateral platforms is key to the success of the Eastern Partnership. I hope that it will bring very concrete support to our partners' reform efforts, as well as deepening mutual understanding”, said Commissioner for External Relations and European Neighborhood Policy, Benita Ferrero-Waldner. She added that the first platform is devoted to governance issues which are at the heart of this partnership. “Respect for citizens' rights, and the rule of law, with a vibrant civil society are key elements of the democratic societies we hope to see grow in these countries". Two flagship projects will be presented in this first meeting: “Integrated Border Management” program and “Prevention of, preparedness for, and response to natural and man-made disasters” (which should be already launched before the end of 2009). The other flagship initiatives include: integration of electricity markets, energy efficiency and renewables; a SME facility; and diversification of energy supply. The other platforms, devoted to people to people contacts, energy and economic integration, will be launched during the month of June – on June 10, June 17 and, respectively, June 26. The European Investment Bank and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development will participate in the last two platforms as well. The aim of these platforms is to support the eastern partners' efforts to approximate to EU standards, to foster exchanges of experience and best practice and to strengthen contacts between them. The Eastern Partnership is launched as a common endeavour of the member states of the European Union and their Eastern European partners, founded on mutual interests and commitments as well as on shared ownership and responsibility. The six partner countries are: Azerbaijan, Armenia, Belarus, Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine. As part of this project, the EU will allocate 600 million euros, between 2010 and 2013, for financial programs in the Eastern European countries that will make democratic progress.