Eastern Partnership

The Eastern Partnership is a project which was formally proposed to be initiated by the European Union (EU). It was presented by the foreign minister of Poland and assist by Sweden at a the EU's General Affairs and External Relations Council in Brussels on 26 May 2008. [ [http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2027636/Poland-takes-on-Russia-with-'Eastern-Partnership'-proposal.html Poland takes on Russia with 'Eastern Partnership' proposal] , "Daily Telegraph", 2008-05-25]

It is meant to complement the Northern Dimension and the Union for the Mediterranean by providing an institutionalised forum for discussing visa agreements, free trade deals and strategic partnership agreements with the EU's eastern neighbours, while avoiding the controversial topic of accession to the European Union. Its geographical scope is to consist of Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine. [ [http://www.barentsobserver.com/eu-might-get-new-eastern-partnership.4485264-16149.html EU might get new Eastern Partnership] , "Barents Observer", 2008-05-22] Belarus will only participate at a technical level (due to the EU's opposition to Alexander Lukashenko, whom it considers a dictator), while Russia will be invited to participate in some local initiatives, for instance regarding its Kaliningrad exclave. Unlike the Union for the Mediterranean, the Eastern Partnership will not have its own secretariat, but would be controlled directly by the European Commission. [ [http://euobserver.com/24/26194 Poland and Sweden to pitch 'Eastern Partnership' idea] , "EUObserver", 2008-05-22]

It was discussed at the European Council on 19 June and 20 June 2008, together with the Union for the Mediterranean. [ [http://www.euractiv.com/en/enlargement/poland-sweden-defend-eastern-initiative/article-172660 Poland, Sweden defend 'Eastern initiative'] , "EurActive.com", 2008-05-26]

The Czech Republic endorses the proposal completely, while Bulgaria and Romania are cautious, fearing that the Black Sea Forum for Partnership and Dialogue and the Organization of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation could be undermined. Meanwhile, Germany, France and others are not quite happy with the possibility that the Eastern Partnership will be seen as a stepping stone to membership (especially for Ukraine), while Poland and other Eastern states have explicitly welcomed this effect. [ [http://euobserver.com/9/26211/?rk=1 'Eastern Partnership' could lead to enlargement, Poland says] , "EU Observer", 2008-05-27]

There are plans to model the concept on the Stabilisation and Association Process used by the EU in the Balkans, including a possible free trade area encompassing the countries in the region, similar to BAFTA or CEFTA. A membership perspective for 2020 or later is not ruled out, either. [http://euobserver.com/9/26766/?rk=1]

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