The Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of Representatives of the U.S Congress adopted a resolution in support of the European aspirations of the peoples of the European Union’s Eastern Partnership countries. The initiative to submit the resolution was put forward by the influential congressman Eliot Engel, a titular member of the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the U.S. legislature, IPN reports, quoting a communiqué from the Moldovan Foreign Ministry.
“Unanimously voted by the members of the Committee on Foreign Affairs, the given resolution expresses the U.S. Congress’ support for the coming closer of the Eastern Partnership countries to the European Union. The approval of the resolution by the representatives of both of the political parties of the Congress reasserts the continuous bipartisan support of the U.S. legislature for Moldova’s European course,” reads the communiqué.
According to the resolution, the United States believes that deepening ties with the EU will benefit these states, the wider region, and Russia, and will represent a step forward toward the realization of the vision of a democratic Europe, whole, free, and at peace. Therefore, the House of Representatives --(1) supports the European aspirations of the peoples of the Eastern Partnership countries; (2) recognizes the significant benefits to these and other countries in the Eastern Europe and Caucasus region of closer economic and political ties with the EU, which will spur economic growth, strengthen democratic institutions and norms, and bolster the rule of law in the region;(3) supports the right of all sovereign states to enter into voluntary partnerships of their choosing, in keeping with their interests and values, and as enshrined in the OSCE's Helsinki principles.
The House of Representatives also rejects the concept of spheres of influence which would divide the European continent, and calls on the Government of Russia to respect the rights of states to make their own sovereign choices with regard to international partnerships, including to sign Association Agreements with the EU. It applauds the significant progress Ukraine, Moldova, and Georgia have made in adopting democratic norms and standards, and calls on the Department of State to continue to support reforms in all Eastern Partnership countries which will both help them meet the conditions necessary for closer relations with the EU and which also make these states more democratic, prosperous, and secure.
