What next for the Eastern Partnership?

The Library and Research Sector attended the policy dialogue "What next for the Eastern Partnership?" organised by the European Policy Centre (EPC).

Mikheil Janelidze, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Georgia, described the Eastern Partnership as a great platform to talk about democracy, which is important not only for the partnership countries but also for the European Union itself. Answering a question from the audience, he also briefly spoke about the relationship between Georgia and NATO, reminding the audience of Georgia's long-time ambition to join the alliance.

Linas Linkevičius, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Lithuania, called for a consistent policy from the European Union in relation to the Eastern Partnership. He suggested that Russia's geopolitical games should not have negative effect on the cooperation processes. He stressed that each of the Eastern Partnership countries is a sovereign state free to choose its own foreign policy priorities.

Thomas Mayr-Harting, Managing Director for Europe and Central Asia at the European External Action Service (EEAS), also commented on the complex relationship between the countries of the Eastern Partnership, the EU and Russia. Eastern Partnership countries should not feel they have to choose between the European Union and their other partners, he advised. He sees the Eastern Partnership counties as a block of six that has to be kept together, although he admitted that they all have their own specific interests.

Tom Casier, Director and Senior Lecturer at the University of Kent, spoke about the challenges that the Eastern Partnership countries face in their political development. He mentioned slow economic development, corruption, the conflict in Ukraine and the relationship between the countries of the Eastern Partnership, the EU and Russia. 

Background

• suggestions for further reading on the Eastern Partnership