1

Eastern partnership

Mazur Yaroslav

The construction of the European Union

Dr. Corneliu Bilba

February 9, 2014

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
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This paper deals with the analysis of the Eastern partnership in terms of its adequacy to

current needs and challenges of the European Union`s relations with its Eastern neighbours in

the context of eastern enlargement.

The Eastern Partnership is designed to provide active cooperation of the European

Union with state-partners. Final structure and content of this cooperation depend on the

particular state, but they relate to the some issues. For example, the Eastern Partnership is

designated to strengthen the democratization in the Eastern European and Southern Caucasus

states, to provide assistance to them in the processes of European integration, modernization

and the rule of law. So it is directed at preventing the new line of separation between the

expanded EU and its neighbors as well as providing an opportunity to participate in various

European Union activities through a closer political, economic, cultural cooperation, and

collaboration in the sphere of security.

The Partnership is to provide the foundation for new Association Agreements between

the EU and those partners who have made sufficient progress towards the principles and values

of European Union. But membership in the European Union isn`t defined as the ultimate goal

of the partnership. So we want to research what stage of relationship is the European Union

have with each country and also analyze the key provisions of the Eastern Partnership Initiative

as the new mechanism of the European Union cooperation in the Eastern Europe and in the

Southern Caucasus, evaluate the additional and main capabilities for each state of Partnership.

We also try to analyze conceptual and practical differences between the strategy of enlargement

and the European Neighborhood Policy and the role of Eastern Partnership in the context to the

state-partners` expectations and the necessity of solving the neighborhood-enlargement

dilemma.

Special attention will be accentuated on the results of the Third Eastern

Partnership Summit in Vilnius and on the perspectives of implementing the Eastern Partnership

Initiative in the next years.

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History and Development of the European Neighbourhood Policy in the East

At its 1993 meeting in Copenhagen, the European Council declared its intention to

eventually enlarge the European Union eastward. The promise was extended to any eastern and

central European country but state needs to fulfil some list of economic and political conditions

called the Copenhagen criteria (after the Copenhagen summit in June 1993), which require a

stable democratic government that respects the rule of law, and its corresponding freedoms and

institutions. The Copenhagen declaration indicates that number of members could eventually

rise. Its obviously that the gains from enlarging the European Union eastward are

potentially enormous. Not only for the European Union, but also for states which wish to join. 1

As a result, eight Central and Eastern European countries (the Czech Republic,

Estonia,Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Slovakia, and Slovenia), plus two Mediterranean

countries (Malta and Cyprus) were able to join on 1 May 2004.

After enlargement in 2004 the European Neighbourhood Policy was initiated with the

goal to create an area of stability and welfare to the South and East from the new borders of the

expanded European Union. Before 2004, the Commission began to consider how enlargement

would change the EUs external relations, and how the the European Union could extend the

reform stimulus of enlargement to the would-be new neighbors of the Union.

In May 2004, the commission published a paper detailing the new policy. The European

Neighborhood Policy is a framework for cooperation between the European Union and all

North African and Middle Eastern European sea-border states, and the land-border states of

Ukraine, Belarus, Moldova and the states of the Caucasus.The countries covered include

Algeria, Morocco, Egypt, Israel,Jordan, Lebanon, Libya, the Palestinian Authority, Syria,

Tunisia in the South and Armenia, Azerbaijan and Belarus, Georgia, Moldova,Ukraine in the

1 Richard E. Baldwin, The Eastern enlargement of the European Union, European Economic
Review 39 (1995): 476.
 4

East. Russia has a special status with the EU-Russia Common Spaces instead of the European

Neighborhood Policy participation. 2

The goal is to promote a set of political, economic and security-related reforms in the

neighboring states. While distinct from the issue of potential membership, The European

Neighborhood Policy offers a privileged relationship based on mutual commitment to common

values such as human rights and democracy.

As part of the same wave (the fifth) as the 2004 enlargement took place the 2007

enlargement of the European Union, when Bulgaria and Romania join the European Union on 1

January 2007.

So after 2004-2007 enlargement of the European Union, new instrument the EU's

relations with neighboring countries became the European Neighbourhood Policy, which

involves the organization of cooperation in many strategically important areas for CC, but does

not include a membership perspective. The idea of separating the Eastern direction of the

European Neighbourhood Policy existed a long time before the Initiative of the Eastern

Partnership appeared. on April 22, 2008 the European Parliament representative from Germany

Ingo Friedrich declared the idea of the Eastern-European Union creation. The Eastern

Partnership was introduced as a joint Polish-Swedish initiative in May 2008 during the meeting

of the EUs General Affairs and Foreign Relations Council. 3 The Polish-Swedish Initiative of

Eastern Partnership from the very beginning was directed at strengthening and stimulation of

the Eastern dimension of the European Neighborhood Policy, which involves the post-Soviet

countries that after the expansion of the European Union in 2004 and 2007 became its direct

neighbours.

According to the decision of the European Council, on December 3, 2008 the European

2 Kelley Judith, New wine in old wineskins: police adaptation the European neighborhood police,
Journal of Common Market Studies (2006): 2. (38)

3 Martyniuk Vitalii, EU's Eastern Partnership: additional possibilities for European Integration of
Ukraine, Ukrainian Center for Independent Political Research (2009): 12. (80)
 5

Council submitted proposals for the development of the Eastern Partnership, and fixed it in the

corresponding Communication "Eastern Partnership". And on March 20, 2009 the European

Council already approved the Eastern Partnership. It was determined that the European

Commission would execute the current management of the Eastern Partnership Program, and

would be responsible for its further conceptual planning.4

The Eastern Partnership is a European Union initiative directed at six countries of

Eastern Europe and the South Caucasus: Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Moldova and

Ukraine. The Eastern Partnership was launched by 27 European Union member states and the

six partner countries at a summit in Prague on 7 May 2009. The initiative aims at tightening the

relationship between the European Union and the Eastern partners by deepening their political

co-operation and economic integration. So the main idea of The Eastern Partnership neither

promises nor precludes the prospect of European Union membership to the partner states. It

offers deeper integration with the European Union structures by encouraging and supporting

them in their political, institutional and economic reforms based on EU standards, as well as

facilitating trade and increasing mobility between the EU and the partner states.5

So Eastern Partnership is a strategy for developing relations EU with six countries of Eastern

Europe and South Caucasus that aimed at building a common area based on common values.

Appearance of EP as a new tool of the European Neighbourhood Policy caused by the

following factors:

- ENP, which covers the 16 nearest neighbors of the EU (Israel, Jordan, Palestine, the

states of North Africa, Eastern Europe and South Caucasus), did not take into

account the peculiarities of the EU's relations with separately neighboring countries

4 Marcin Lapczynski, The European Union`s eastern partnership chanses and perspectives, Cuacasian
review of international affairs 3 (2009): 144. (155)

5 Easternpartnership. What is the Eastern Partnership? Accessed January 23, 2014,

http://www.eastern partnership.org/content/eastern-partnership-glance
 6

and needed revision towards regionalization. This led to the emergence of the

initiative the "Eastern Partnership";

- Introducing the "Eastern Partnership" as part of the European Neighborhood Policy,

the European Union responded to the request for external strengthening of

integration component (from the Eastern European countries) and for the inner need

to strengthen Eastern dimension of its own foreign policy.

Eastern Partnership as a new tool of strengthening the integration processes

In this part of paper we discuss the main differences of the Eastern Partnership in

comparison to the European Neighborhood Policy, its dimension of regional cooperation. The

Eastern Partnership is a real new dimension of regional cooperation, which envisages

improvement of the EU relations with the Eastern neighbors, such as Ukraine, Armenia,

Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia and Moldova.

Within a decade, the European Union has always built its strategy for Eastern European

Countries under the European Neighborhood Policy. This policy could not provide an

adequate response to challenges in EU relations with its neighbors. So what are the advantages

of the new policy compared to the old one?

At first the Eastern Partnership is a more flexible tool of cooperation in all fields. Its

means that it does not only include six countries of the Eastern Europe and the Southern

Caucasus, but may evolve taking into account the requirements, opportunities and achievements

of each of the Partner States. According to implementation of requirements, the European

Union could make cooperation more close or in reverse.

The key aspect of the Eastern Partnership is differentiation. It envisages to be more

flexible through the differentiated approach to each of the Partner States depending on the

success of internal reforms advancement and relations with the EU on the way to European

integration.
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One more point that the Eastern Partnership envisages concluding gradually new

agreements with all the Partner States, such as Association Agreements, including agreements

on deep and comprehensive free trade areas for those countries.

The Eastern Partnership proposes both bilateral and multilateral formats for

strengthening cooperation in the Eastern Europe and in the Southern Caucasus. It means that

the Eastern Partnership foresees strengthening of relations among the Eastern Partners

themselves. The multilateral format provides an opportunity for all the Partner States and the

EU to understand better the situation in the region, to solve jointly the current regional

problems and issues for supporting stability and security in the region.

Contrary to the European Neighbourhood Policy, the Eastern Partnership is not limited

to neighbourhood relationsand has the goal for promoting the Partner States, at least in separate

spheres, till implementation of the EU standards within them.

The Eastern Partnership envisages increased financing in comparison to financing

within the European Neighbourhood Policy.

The Eastern Partnership envisages organizational structure. Meetings of the Heads of

States or other officials of the Eastern Partnership Partner States shall be held biannually. The

Eastern Partnership also introduces annual meetings of the Ministers of Foreign Affairs of the

EU Member States and the Partner States, Ministerial Conferences in separate spheres, regular

meetings on four thematic platforms. 6

Within the Eastern Partnership Program it is envisaged to conclude pacts of "mobility

and security", which shall assist movement of people. The final goal in the long perspective is

the visa-free regime of movement among all of the Partner States. In any case, the EU shall

install the visa-free regime only for those countries, which complete all the technical

requirements of the EU.

6 Martyniuk Vitalii, EU's Eastern Partnership: additional possibilities for European Integration of
Ukraine, Ukrainian Center for Independent Political Research (2009): 12. (80)
 8

The Eastern Partnership pays much attention to the issues of energy security in the

partner states and in the EU, and strengthens cooperation in climate and environmental

protection.

The Eastern Partnership shall facilitate the development of programs aimed at the social

and economic developmentof the Partner States, in particular, in the direction of overcoming

the acute social and economic differences among these countries.

Evaluation of Perspectives for Implementing the Eastern Partnership Initiative

Ever since the launch of the Eastern Partnership in Prague in May 2009, its added value

to the European Neighborhood Policy has been hotly discussed. Some analysts claim that the

Eastern Partnership has been so successful that it has virtually eclipsed the ENP and that the

Eastern Partnership arrival heralds a final farewell to a unified approach to Eastern and

Southern neighbor countries. Others take the opposite stance and argue that the Eastern

Partnership does not present a qualitatively new situation in the EUs relations with its

neighborhood and that the ENP remains the main vehicle for EUs neighborhood policy.

The Eastern Partnership is a product of a double dissatisfaction. Among EU member

states, there has always been a one group of countries which have never put up with the official

position of the European Commission that the European Neighborhood Policy is in no way

connected to the possibility of future enlargement. The second dissatisfaction exists among the

Eastern partners. For example Ukraine didn`t evaluate point missing membership perspective.

From the other hand the Eastern Partnership has become an opportunity for the Partner

States to fix the planned and the new perspectives for integration into the EU within the new

regulatory and legal frames. Firstly, it goes about Ukraine, which has declared by its foreign

policy the strategic goal for becoming the EU Member.

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In any case, the Eastern Partnership must not replace the perspective for gaining the EU

membership.

In the way to evaluate the perspectives for implementing the Eastern Partnership Initiative, we

should to describe all positive results during last years. So Over the first four years of its

implementation, Eastern Partnership initiative has brought a number of tangible results:

- Association Agreements, including Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Areas, as their integral

parts, have been negotiated with Ukraine, the Republic of Moldova, Georgia and Armenia;
- good progress has also been achieved in respective negotiations with Azerbaijan;
- considerable progress has been made in the area of visa facilitation and liberalization: 5 out of 6

partners already have or will soon have Visa Facilitation Agreements;

- 3 of them now have Visa Liberalization Actions Plans, prepared specifically to them, full and

effective implementation of which will bring these countries straight to the visa free travels

with the EU;

- the multilateral cooperation dimension has been established and further strengthened.7

At the same time, the current situation is not at all conducive to a quick integration of the some

partner countries in the EU especially after the third Eastern Partnership Summit in Vilnius. By

signing an Association Agreement with Ukraine and initialing similar agreements with

Armenia, Georgia and Moldova, the EU was expecting to demonstrate the first tangible results

of its policy toward its eastern neighbors. Rather than signing and initialing, Ukraine and

Armenia rejected an Association Agreement with the EU. So the turn of events brings to light

two features of existing EU policy: the relative weakness of EU incentives and the continuing

problems for countries in the post-Soviet space to evade Russia's influence.

Despite the EU's recent setbacks with respect to Ukraine and Armenia, it can

claim several successes from its Eastern Partnership initiatives. For example, Moldova's pro-

European governing coalition has adopted a number of reforms in compliance with EU

demands since 2009. Georgia similarly remains committed to Euro-Atlantic integration even as

its new government attempts to gradually relax relations with Russia. Also on the sidelines of
7 The third Eastern Partnership Summit in Vilnius. Accessed December 2, 2013,
http://www.eu2013.lt/en/
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the summit, the European Union and Azerbaijan signed an agreement to facilitate the

procedures for issuing short-stay visas. Armenia, traditionally one of Russia's closest allies and

heavily dependent on Russian for economic and military security, demonstrated a sincere

interest in an Association Agreement with the EU and negotiated its terms for three years. This

happened actually because of two reasons. First and foremost, virtually all partner countries

suffer from serious domestic political problems. Secondly, most partner countries have

seriously suffered from the Russian pressure before and after the third Eastern

Partnership Summit in Vilnius. Thirdly, the region is plagued by strong inter-state rivalries. For

instance, the dispute about the flights between Azerbaijan and northern Cyprus caused an

interruption in EU negotiations with all three of the Caucasian countries. Needless to say, some

states have nourished an even deeper mistrust of other partner countries because of the still

unresolved frozen conflicts (Armenia and Azerbaijan).8

So only two countries, Georgia and Moldova initialed association agreements with the

European Union at a summit in Vilnius dedicated to the European Union's Eastern Partnership'

countries post-soviet states. Today's signing is just the first step in a ratification process for

the EU association agreements that could take a year.

Relationship with Russia

Russia considers any initiative in the post-Soviet area as an obstacle for strengthening its

own influence and protection of national interests. Besides the Russian Federation does not seek

any formal involvement in the Eastern Partnership framework and in this region Russia strives

to lead the integration processes itself. First, having not been involved in the process of

designing it, Russia does not regard itself as an owner or a stakeholder of the Eastern

8 Dominik Tolksdorf, The Vilnius Summit: Russia puts a stick in the European wheel. Accessed 29
november 2013, http://www.europeangeostrategy.org/2013/11/vilnius-summit-russia-puts-stick-in-
european-wheel/
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Partnership. Second, after some initial consultations at the early stages of the European

Neighborhood Policy development, Russia learned that its leverage over the practical

implementation of the European Neighborhood Policy / Eastern Partnership was small and not

appreciated by a number of the Eastern Partnership countries. As a result, Moscow distanced

itself from any practical work on the Eastern Partnership and remained hesitant even as regards

the possibility of accepting eventual invitations to participate in the work of the thematic tables

on a case-by-case basis.9

Russia cannot stay away of the processes, which shall be developing within the Eastern

Partnership. Many Partner States (especially from Southern Caucasus) feel more influence and

presence of Russia than the EU. Russia also proposes concrete steps to settle down problems of

those countries from providing privileged credits to settling down the conflicts. For example

Ukraine the end of this year has brought new arrangements about new credits between Kyiv and

Moscow instead of the signature of the Association Agreement between Ukraine and the EU.

Moscow proceeds on the basis of understanding that any attempt to organize a regional

group which excludes the Russian Federation is not only doomed to failure, but is going to run

contrary to the interests of Russia (and that of the relevant countries). Thats why Moscow is

generally skeptical towards the idea of multilateralism suggested by the EU. Russia has voiced

concerns over the Eastern Partnership, seeing it as an attempt to expand the European Union's

sphere of influence. Russia has also expressed concerns that the EU is putting undue pressure

on Belarus. Belarus matters for the EU for at least two reasons: as a transit country for Russian

gas; and as a non-compliant and hence threat-bearing neighbor. For Russia, Belarus is of

strategic importance, not only as a transit (and cheap) territory for passing its goods to Europe,

but also as a military ally and a link to Kaliningrad, a Russian strategic enclave.

However, the issue of appropriate cooperation between Russia, the EU, and the Eastern

Partnership countries remains on the agenda.

9 Andrei Zagorski, Eastern partnership from the Russian Perspective. Accessed 5 may 2011,
http://library.fes.de/ pdf-files/ipg/2011-3/05_zagorski.pdf
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Problems of Eastern enlargement (analysis by country)

Case of Moldova

Moldova officially declares about the integration into the EU and further development

and strengthening of cooperation with the EU, but currently encounters problems of the internal

political non-stability, which may retard the European integration processes in the country.

In May 2011, Moldovan authorities sent to the ministries, embassies and parliaments of

the EU member countries a special non-paper document in which they proposed the

development direction for the Eastern Partnership. The first and most fundamental demand

made by the Moldovan authorities is a clear declaration of EU membership perspective for the

countries which are capable of fulfilling the accession criteria. 10

European integration for Moldova in all its aspects from the fundamental values to the most

detailed Union directives and regulations should be the foundation stone and the ultimate

objective of every single action undertaken within the framework of the two dimensions of the

Eastern Partnership. So we could see that the main goal for Moldova in the Eastern Partnership

is s full integration.

The next step was made during the 29 November Eastern Partnership Summit, the EU -

Moldova Association Agreement was initialed. The initialing of the Agreement is an important

step towards its eventual signature and subsequent implementation.

Although the Association Agreement has not yet been signed, the EU is committed to

sharing what exactly it contains.

The Association Agreement could be concrete way to take advantage of the very

positive dynamics in EU-Moldova relations. It focuses on support for core reforms, economic

recovery, governance, sector cooperation and the far reaching liberalization of Moldova's trade

with the EU. The EU plans to sign an Association Agreement with Moldova and Georgia until

10 Horbowski Tomasz, Moldova What should the Eastern Partnership be? Accessed 19 july, 2011.
http://eastbook.eu/en/2011/07/country-en/moldova-en/moldova-what-the-eastern-partnership-should-be/
 13

august next year. This was said the head of the European Council Herman Van Rompuy during

the summit in Vilnus.11

According to him, the EU has decided to meet these countries, since most of the

population seeks cooperation with Europe

Case of Armenia

Armenia also counts on receiving investments and financial assistance from the EU, and

also it is interested in settling the problem of Nagorny Karabakh and stabilization of situation in

the region. But as we known after nearly four years of negotiating the Association Agreement

with the EU, Armenian president Serzh Sargsyan made an abrupt turn, announcing his intention

to instead join the Customs Union with Russia, Belarus, and Kazakhstan. It could result in

Armenias deeper isolation and cause additional complications for the Nagorno-Karabakh

conflict resolution process. After that association agreement stopped in its tracks. Half-hearted

engagement with wider public by Armenian government and EU alike now compounded by

major setback to European integration.12

Case of Ukraine

Relations between Ukraine and the European Union are currently shaped via the Eastern

partnership, a foreign policy instrument of the EU designed for the countries it borders. The

European Union is seeking an increasingly close relationship with Ukraine, going beyond

cooperation, to gradual economic integration and deepening of political cooperation. Ukraine is

said to be a priority partner within the Eastern partnership.

11Initialling of the EU-Republic of Moldova Association Agreement last modified March 11, 2013,
http://www.eeas.europa.eu/top_stories/2013/291113_eu_moldova_association_agreement_en.htm

12 Armen Grigoryan, Armenia Chooses Customs Union over EU Association Agreement, CACI
Analyst. Accessed 18 september, 2013, http://www.cacianalyst.org/publications/analytical-
articles/item/12817-armenia-chooses-customs-union-over-eu-association-agreement.html
 14

Without a doubt Ukraine occupies an exceptional status within the group of EU

neighbours and moreover, cherishes its status as more than just a neighbour. Already in 1999

the EU developed a Common Strategy towards Ukraine which acknowledged Ukraines

European aspirations and pro-European choice and is now on the cusp of finalising an

Association Agreement (which may serve as a model for further AAs with EaP countries). The

EU has endeavoured to support good governance and democracy in Ukraine, especially since

the revolution, but results have been mixed. Ukraine supports the Eastern partnership, but

crucially does not accept it as an alternative to membership.13

In 2012, the EU signed deals on free trade and political association with Ukraine. But

european leaders have stated that these agreements will not be ratified unless Ukraine addresses

concerns over a "stark deterioration of democracy and the rule of law", including the

imprisonment of political prisoners. European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso and

EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice President of the

European Commission Catherine Ashton have said they believe that the Ukrainian authorities

should immediately stop the selective prosecution of political opponents in order to sign signing

and ratify the association agreement and the agreement on the creation of a deep and

comprehensive free trade area.

On November 21st, one week before the European Union summit in Vilnius ukrainian

government suspended talks with the EU. The decision to put off signing the association

agreement lead to massive, ongoing protests in Ukraine that continues now.

However, President of the European Commission Jos Manuel Barroso reiterated that

EU's offer to Ukraine in terms of signing an Association Agreement remained on the table until

Ukraine will be ready to continue cooperation. But after intense pressure from Russia, the

Ukrainian Presidents abandoned negotiations with the EU before the Summit took place and

after Summit.
13 Longhurst Kerry, Nies Susanne, Recasting relations with the neighbours prospects for the
Eastern Partnership, Europe Visions 4, (Bruxelles: IFRI, 2009), 3.
 15

The EUs offer of the Association Agreement remains on the table for Ukraine. The

public anger and mass protests against Russias role in persuading Yanukovich not to sign the

Association Agreement with the EU has made it all but impossible for the Ukrainian President

to take the alternative route offered by the Kremlin, i.e. Joining the customs union with

Russia, Belarus and Kazakhstan. Any compromise with the protesters would have to revive the

Association Agreement and reduce Russias influence. 14

Now in Ukraine very difficult political situation because of protests, and a question

about association receded for some time. However, in February 2013 Fule warned Ukraine that

the agreements could be abandoned if the required reforms are not made quickly so its possible

that in the next years Association Agreement will be sign.

Case of Georgia

Georgia and the European Union have maintained relations since 1996. In 2006 was

implemented five year`s "Action Plan" of action in the context of the European Neighbourhood

Policy.

A ceremony on the initialling of the Association Agreement was held at the Eastern

Partnership summit on 29 November 2013, but must still be signed before being finalized. A

second agreement, governing the country's involvement in European Union crisis management

operations, was also signed. In June 2012, the European Union and Georgia began a visa

liberalisation dialogue to allow for visa free travel of Georgian citizens to the European Union.

14 Steven Blockmans and Hrant Kostanyan, A post-mortem of the Vilnius Summit: Not yet a
Thessaloniki moment for the Eastern Partnership, 3 december , 2013. www.ceps.eu/ceps/dld/8693/pdf
 16

The talks aimed to have a Visa Liberalisation Action Plan in place by the end of the year. The

action plan was delivered to Georgia on 25 February 2013.15

Georgia may move in that direction, despite the likelihood that they will come under

more aggressive pressure from Russia in the coming months. The threat of stricter

Russian immigration policy could see thousands of Moldovans and Georgians expelled;

more trade sanctions could be employed by Russia; and new tensions in the breakaway

republics of Transnistria, Abkhazia and South Ossetia may lead to a worsening of the

security situation after the winter Olympics in Sochi.

Georgia declares an intention to integrate into the EU in all spheres, but primarily it shall pay

attention to the most important problems for it:

settling the issue of Southern Ossetia and Abkhazia, preserving the territorial integrity,

stabilization of situation in the country and in the region, supporting the role of the country as

the principal transit state of energy resources from Caspian and Central Asia to Europe.

Case of Azerbaijan

The EU and Azerbaijan maintain their relations under the Partnership and Cooperation

Agreement, which was signed in 1996 and came into force in 1999.

In recent years Azerbaijan has been slowly pursuing the reform strategy to develop

democracy and a market economy in the country and to bring Azerbaijan closer to the EU.

The principal objective of cooperation between the EU and Azerbaijan is to develop an

increasingly close relationship, going beyond past levels of cooperation to gradual economic

integration and deeper political cooperation.16

15 Civil Georgia, EU, Georgia Making 'Good Progress' in Association Agreement, Visa
Liberalization Talks, 3 september, 2012. http://www.civil.ge/eng/article.php?id=25175

16 Azerbaijan: country strategy paper (2007-2013). 26 October 2006. Brussels: European

neighborhood and partnership instrument. 4.
 17

This process of Azerbaijans integration with Europe, however, is being challenged by

poor understanding of European standards and values. In addition, limited public awareness on

EU-Azerbaijan relations and EU institutions undermines sustained engagement of civil society

in the countrys development. The lack of understanding and involvement of independent

experts and civil society representatives renders the reflection of civil society views in the

process of European integration.

Azerbaijan joined the European Neighbourhood Policy in 2004, and the action plan for

Azerbaijan was adopted on November 14, 2006, after being passed by the Azerbaijani

government and the European Commission. Key items included on the plan are investment in

Azerbaijans infrastructure, partial integration of the Azerbaijani economy into Europes, and

partnerships with Azerbaijan on extracting oil from the Azerbaijani controlled part of the

Caspian Sea.17

The next step was made during the third Eastern Partnership Vilnus summit. Azerbaijan

and the EU launched official negotiations on visa facilitation in March 2012 in Baku. So

Azerbaijan and the European Union signed an agreement on visa regime facilitation at the third

Eastern Partnership Summit in Vilnius on November 29.

Conclusion

At this stage of relationship EU and state-partners we could see that eastern enlargement

of European Union exist in few angles. Continue cooperation in many areas with all partners,

and some of them have a perspective to become a member of european comunity.

The Eastern Partnership is a project of eastern enlargement, that finally formalises the

ever more palpable regionalisation of the European Neighbourhood Policy. Although the

Eastern Partnership does not change the overwhelmingly bilateral nature of the policy, it adds a

strong multilateral element. While the basic operational structure, including regular meetings on

17
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all levels, is sound and the flagship initiatives are well chosen, the projects future success is not

guaranteed.

All in all, there are few basic criteria upon which we can judge the success of the

Eastern Partnership, and in particular the success of its multilateral framework. The first and

most important is the question of continuity, the ongoing political support of the Eastern

Partnership by both the European Union and the partner countries. Given the difficulties in

those partner countries that are most enthusiastic about European Union.

Integration as well as the multiplicity of interests inside the European Union, this will be

no easy task. On the other hand, the Eastern Partnership is certainly more attractive and offers

more incentives than the European Neighbourhood Policy, thus motivating them strongly to

pursue a path to reforms.

For all the reasons mentioned above, the European Union and its member states should

not miss another opportunity to fully embrace the Eastern partners European choice and the

future accession of Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine to the EU.

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 19

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