Eastern Partnership

COVID-19 in Selected Partner Countries

Retrieved on: 
Tuesday, May 19, 2020
Continents, Politics of Europe, Europe, European integration, European Committee of the Regions, Regionalism, Enlargement of the European Union, Eastern Partnership, European Union

The European Committee of the Regions is in frequent exchange with partners in candidate countries and potential candidates for EU enlargement, Eastern Partnership countries, Mediterranean partner countries and beyond.

Key Points: 
  • The European Committee of the Regions is in frequent exchange with partners in candidate countries and potential candidates for EU enlargement, Eastern Partnership countries, Mediterranean partner countries and beyond.
  • Worldwide, regional and local leaders are at the forefront of the fight against the pandemic.
  • On this page (https://cor.europa.eu/en/our-work/Pages/civex-covid-19.aspx) , measures against covid-19 and more related information from selected partner countries are presented, based on information provided by the CoR's partners.

Article - Parliament this week: Covid-19 exit strategy and neighbourhood policy

Retrieved on: 
Tuesday, May 19, 2020
Politics of Europe, Continents, Europe, Foreign relations of the European Union, Foreign relations of Armenia, Georgia (country)–European Union relations, Ukraine–European Union relations, Foreign relations of Azerbaijan, Eastern Partnership, European Neighbourhood Policy, Europol, Catherine De Bolle

On Monday, the internal market committee will discuss the EU coronavirus exit strategy with Internal Market Commissioner Thierry Breton.

Key Points: 
  • On Monday, the internal market committee will discuss the EU coronavirus exit strategy with Internal Market Commissioner Thierry Breton.
  • Neighbourhood policy

    The foreign affairs committee will on Tuesday exchange views with Olivr Vrhelyi, Commissioner for Neighbourhood and Enlargement, on the Eastern Partnership policy and vote on a report.

  • The policy concerns six countries from the EUs neighbourhood: Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Moldova and Ukrain.
  • Catherine De Bolle, executive director at Europol, will also give a presentation on her agencys work in combatting Covid-19 pandemic-induced criminal behaviour.

Highlights - COVID-19 support to EU's Neighbourhood and Turkey: committee debates - Committee on Foreign Affairs

Retrieved on: 
Tuesday, May 19, 2020
Politics of Europe, Continents, Europe, Foreign relations of Armenia, Foreign relations of Azerbaijan, EASTERN EUROPE, Eastern Partnership, European Union

COVID-19 support to EU's Neighbourhood and Turkey: committee debates

Key Points: 
  • COVID-19 support to EU's Neighbourhood and Turkey: committee debates
    COVID-19 support to EU's Neighbourhood and Turkey: committee debates
    The Committee on Foreign Affairs will look into the recently published Commission Communication on the Eastern Partnership policy beyond 2020, on 19 May.
  • The debate will take place with Neighbourhood and Enlargement Commissioner Olivr Vrhelyi.
  • They will also discuss EU assistance reoriented towards fighting the consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic in the Eastern and the Southern Neighbourhood, and in Turkey.

Article - Parliament this week: Covid-19 exit strategy and neighbourhood policy

Retrieved on: 
Tuesday, May 19, 2020
Politics of Europe, Continents, Europe, Foreign relations of the European Union, Foreign relations of Armenia, Georgia (country)–European Union relations, Ukraine–European Union relations, Foreign relations of Azerbaijan, Eastern Partnership, European Neighbourhood Policy, Europol, Catherine De Bolle

On Monday, the internal market committee will discuss the EU coronavirus exit strategy with Internal Market Commissioner Thierry Breton.

Key Points: 
  • On Monday, the internal market committee will discuss the EU coronavirus exit strategy with Internal Market Commissioner Thierry Breton.
  • Neighbourhood policy

    The foreign affairs committee will on Tuesday exchange views with Olivr Vrhelyi, Commissioner for Neighbourhood and Enlargement, on the Eastern Partnership policy and vote on a report.

  • The policy concerns six countries from the EUs neighbourhood: Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Moldova and Ukrain.
  • Catherine De Bolle, executive director at Europol, will also give a presentation on her agencys work in combatting Covid-19 pandemic-induced criminal behaviour.

Eastern Partnership policy beyond 2020: Council approves conclusions

Retrieved on: 
Tuesday, May 12, 2020
Continents, Politics of Europe, Europe, Foreign relations of Azerbaijan, EASTERN EUROPE, Eastern Partnership, European integration, Psychological resilience

The Council today approved conclusions on the Eastern Partnership policy beyond 2020, reaffirming its strategic importance, and the joint commitment to building a common area of shared democracy, prosperity and stability.

Key Points: 
  • The Council today approved conclusions on the Eastern Partnership policy beyond 2020, reaffirming its strategic importance, and the joint commitment to building a common area of shared democracy, prosperity and stability.
  • Today's Council conclusions follow up on the conclusions of the European Council of 20 June 2019, which marked the 10th anniversary of the Eastern Partnership, and the joint communication: "Eastern Partnership policy beyond 2020: Reinforcing Resilience an Eastern Partnership that delivers for all" of 18 March 2020.
  • In its conclusions the Council welcomes the significant achievements of the Eastern Partnership to date, and reiterates its incentive- and conditionality-based approach as a means to encourage Eastern partner countries to continue engaging in reforms and increasing efforts in this regard.
  • The conclusions call firmly for a renewed commitment to the fundamentals of the Eastern Partnership.

RECOMMENDATION on the draft Council decision on the conclusion of the Agreement between the European Union and the Republic of Belarus on the readmission of persons residing without authorisation - A9-0097/2020

Retrieved on: 
Tuesday, May 5, 2020
Continents, Europe, Ukraine–European Union relations, Foreign relations of the European Union, EASTERN EUROPE, Eastern Partnership, BELARUS, European Neighbourhood Policy

on the draft Council decision on the conclusion of the Agreement between the European Union and the Republic of Belarus on the readmission of persons residing without authorisation (12158/2019 C90004/2020 2019/0181(NLE)) The European Parliament, having regard to the draft Council decision (12158/2019), having regard to the draft Agreement between the European Union and the Republic of Belarus on the readmission of persons residing without authorisation (12160/2019), having regard to the request for consent submitted by the Council in accordance with Article79(3) and Article218(6), second subparagraph, point (a), of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (C90004/2019), having regard to Rule 105(1) and (4) and Rule 114(7) of its Rules of Procedure, having regard to the recommendation of the Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs (A9-0097/2020), 1.Gives its consent to the conclusion of the agreement; 2.Instructs its President to forward its position to the Council, the Commission and the governments and parliaments of the Member States and of the Republic of Belarus.

Key Points: 
  • on the draft Council decision on the conclusion of the Agreement between the European Union and the Republic of Belarus on the readmission of persons residing without authorisation (12158/2019 C90004/2020 2019/0181(NLE)) The European Parliament, having regard to the draft Council decision (12158/2019), having regard to the draft Agreement between the European Union and the Republic of Belarus on the readmission of persons residing without authorisation (12160/2019), having regard to the request for consent submitted by the Council in accordance with Article79(3) and Article218(6), second subparagraph, point (a), of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (C90004/2019), having regard to Rule 105(1) and (4) and Rule 114(7) of its Rules of Procedure, having regard to the recommendation of the Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs (A9-0097/2020), 1.Gives its consent to the conclusion of the agreement; 2.Instructs its President to forward its position to the Council, the Commission and the governments and parliaments of the Member States and of the Republic of Belarus.
  • However, due to Belarus' lack of commitment to democracy and fundamental rights, the Union has not yet ratified the bilateral agreement.
  • Later on, trade preferences were suspended and sanctions applied in the light of Belarus' violations of the core principles of the Union.
  • Furthermore, the Union has excluded Belarus from its European Neighbourhood Policy (ENP), which was originally designed to strengthen relations with neighbouring countries to the east and south.
  • In 2009, the Union launched a new initiative to deepen and strengthen relations with some countries to the east, including Belarus: the Eastern Partnership.
  • Belarus has been participating actively in the Eastern Partnership and the bilateral relationship will be strengthened through the EU-Belarus Partnership Priorities, which are currently being negotiated.
  • On 28 February 2011, the Council officially authorised the Commission to negotiate the two agreements between the Union and Belarus.
  • *** With regard to the Readmission Agreement, it should be noted that the readmission commitments have been drawn up on the basis of complete reciprocity.
  • The rapporteur also highlights the particular case of third-country nationals subject to readmission to Belarus according to the provisions of Article 4 of the Agreement.
  • The rapporteur highlights the fact that the Union is represented only by the Commission, assisted by experts from Member States, on the Joint Readmission Committee.
  • In order to ensure fundamental rights compliance, the potential impact on fundamental rights has to be assessed prior to the conclusion of a readmission agreement.
  • This Agreement includes the obligation to readmit persons who entered the EU after having stayed on, or transited through, the territory of Belarus.
  • The Greens/EFA insist that democratic scrutiny should be guaranteed by ensuring that formal agreements are concluded instead of informal arrangements.
  • In this respect, the Greens/EFA deplore that the terms of this Agreement do not exclude the possibility to work on the basis of informal arrangements.
  • Moreover, the conclusion of a readmission agreement should not be a precondition to enter into visa liberalisation.
  • Therefore, an enhanced mobility should be used for increasing the grassroots level cooperation and further strengthening and supporting Belarusian civil society.
  • The European Union and Belarus finally signed the visa facilitation agreement and the readmission agreement on 8 January 2020.
  • The readmission agreement should be concluded in a timely manner and enter into force simultaneously with the agreement on visa facilitation, since the two agreements are linked.
  • PROCEDURE COMMITTEE ASKED FOR OPINION Title Conclusion of the Agreement between the European Union and the Republic of Belarus on the readmission of persons residing without authorisation

Highlights - A proactive and more strategic European Union - Committee on Foreign Affairs

Retrieved on: 
Monday, January 20, 2020
Continents, Politics of Europe, Europe, Foreign relations of Armenia, EASTERN EUROPE, Eastern Partnership, Partnership

The Eastern Partnership - vision of development after 2020

Key Points: 
  • The Eastern Partnership - vision of development after 2020

    On 21 January, the Committee on Foreign Affairs will hold a public hearing on the future of the Eastern Partnership.

  • The Members will discuss with experts the achievements and shortcomings of the Eastern Partnership both at the regional and multilateral level.
  • They will also analyse possible evolution of the EU's relations with its six Eastern partners and a way forward for the Eastern Partnership in the next decade.
  • The hearing will help the Parliament in drafting its contribution to the Eastern Partnership summit, which is foreseen in spring 2020.

Highlights - AFET Chair welcomes the de-escalation of violence in the Gulf region - Committee on Foreign Affairs

Retrieved on: 
Monday, January 13, 2020
Continents, Politics of Europe, Europe, Foreign relations of Armenia, EASTERN EUROPE, Eastern Partnership, Partnership

The Eastern Partnership - vision of development after 2020

Key Points: 
  • The Eastern Partnership - vision of development after 2020

    On 21 January, the Committee on Foreign Affairs will hold a public hearing on the future of the Eastern Partnership.

  • The Members will discuss with experts the achievements and shortcomings of the Eastern Partnership both at the regional and multilateral level.
  • They will also analyse possible evolution of the EU's relations with its six Eastern partners and a way forward for the Eastern Partnership in the next decade.
  • The hearing will constitute the Parliament's contribution to the Eastern Partnership summit, which is foreseen in spring 2020.

Highlights - The Eastern Partnership - vision of development after 2020 - Committee on Foreign Affairs

Retrieved on: 
Monday, January 13, 2020
Continents, Politics of Europe, Europe, Foreign relations of Armenia, EASTERN EUROPE, Eastern Partnership, Partnership

The Eastern Partnership - vision of development after 2020

Key Points: 
  • The Eastern Partnership - vision of development after 2020

    On 21 January, the Committee on Foreign Affairs will hold a public hearing on the future of the Eastern Partnership.

  • The Members will discuss with experts the achievements and shortcomings of the Eastern Partnership both at the regional and multilateral level.
  • They will also analyse possible evolution of the EU's relations with its six Eastern partners and a way forward for the Eastern Partnership in the next decade.
  • The hearing will constitute the Parliament's contribution to the Eastern Partnership summit, which is foreseen in spring 2020.

Press release - 8th Euronest Assembly: the future of relations with Eastern partners

Retrieved on: 
Wednesday, December 4, 2019
Politics of Europe, Continents, Europe, Ukraine–European Union relations, Euronest Parliamentary Assembly, Pan-Europeanism, European Parliament, Eastern Partnership, Member of the European Parliament, Verkhovna Rada

Members of the Euronest Parliamentary Assembly will meet in Tbilisi, Georgia, for the 8th Ordinary Session, from 8 to 10 December.

Key Points: 
  • Members of the Euronest Parliamentary Assembly will meet in Tbilisi, Georgia, for the 8th Ordinary Session, from 8 to 10 December.
  • The Assembly is comprised of 60 MEPs and 10 members from each of the participating parliaments of the Eastern European partners (Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine).
  • The meetings will be co-chaired by MEP Andrius Kubilius (EPP, LT) and Ivan Krulko, member of the Verkhovna Rada (Ukrainian parliament).
  • The multilateral Assembly contributes to strengthening, developing and making the Eastern Partnership visible.