European Commission Vice President Josep Borrell, after a meeting with the foreign affairs ministers of Georgia, the Republic of Moldova and Ukraine in Brussels, said that he welcomes the closer coordination between Georgia, the Republic of Moldova and Ukraine, as well as their request for enhanced cooperation with the European Union, IPN reports, quoting a press release of the EU Delegation to Moldova.
“A crucial aspect of our Eastern Partnership is building links not only between the European Union and our partner countries, but also among them - among the partners themselves. And that is good. And with each of you, not only do we cooperate in the Eastern Partnership, but we also have Association Agreements, including Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Areas.
“These agreements are the most comprehensive that the European Union has with any other partner - with any of its partners. They commit us to strengthening our political association and economic integration - which we have been doing,” stated Josep Borrell.
He noted that the full implementation of these agreements is key to exploit all the opportunities they offer, for example further trade exchanges, more security cooperation - and today especially in the new fields of disinformation, cyber and hybrid threats - on environment, and connectivity.
According to Josep Borrell, coming closer to the European Union will require a work from both sides. “In each of your countries, you know that there are key reform areas that require swift, thorough and sincere improvements. We can only approximate legislation, to deepen cooperation, and advance on joint work if these reforms are fully enacted and enforced. We are standing by each of you respectively in these efforts and support you politically and financially,” he stated.
He also said that this year is an important year for the Eastern Partnership. They are in the process of finalizing the post-2020 agenda, which contains concrete deliverables and targets. The Eastern Partnership Summit will take place in December and then they will have an opportunity to set this new agenda in motion, and to agree on a common vision for the future.
“We are looking forward, dear colleagues, dear friends, to developing relations based on the principles of inclusivity and differentiation. Both have to be taken together and this will require flexibility from both parts. I count on you, Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine, to play a full and constructive part in this,” said Josep Borrell.
Today, June 24, the Vice-Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs of Georgia, David Zalkaliani, acting Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs and European Integration of the Republic of Moldova, Aureliu Ciocoi, and Minister for Foreign Affairs of Ukraine, Dmytro Kuleba are paying a joint working visit to EU institutions in Brussels in the Associated Trio format.
