Association Agreements: EU must defend its Eastern partners

“The EU has a responsibility to defend its Eastern partners from Russia's unacceptable pressure using political and economic means aimed at deterring them from association with the European Union. According to the Final Helsinki Act, these countries have a right to choose with whom they want to build their political and economic relationship", said Elmar Brok MEP, Chairman of the European Parliament's Foreign Affairs Committee, and Jacek Saryusz-Wolski MEP, Vice-President of the EURONEST Parliamentary Assembly, Vice-President of European People’s Party, and initiator and author of the Resolution adopted today by the European Parliament condemning pressure exercised by Russia on countries of the Eastern partnership in the context of the Vilnius Summit.

We confirm our will to initial or sign Association Agreements with our partners if they don't bend under Russian pressure and if they continue their efforts to conclude the necessary work to finalise the process of the association with the European Union by meeting the requirements", they stressed.

If the Association Agreements are signed, the European Union is ready to agree to an immediate 'provisional application', which allows for the trade part of the Agreements to be immediately implemented, maybe even in April 2014, before ratification by the European Parliament. After the signature of the Association Agreements, the EU is also ready to reactivate its funding and support for the Eastern Neighbourhood countries - currently suspended - and to introduce visa facilitations with a view to the total elimination of visas in the future", explained Brok and Saryusz-Wolski.

The Resolution insists that the European choice of the Eastern Partnership countries will not have a negative impact on their relations, including commercial ones, with Russia. On the contrary.

To be successful, the process of the reforms needed for the European perspective requires huge societal support in the countries which implement the reforms. This is why the European Parliament is calling on the Commission and the European External Action Service to intensify actions aimed at promoting the Eastern Partnership and benefits which are gained by the European choice for those countries and their citizens. We need a campaign to raise awareness among Eastern European societies to demonstrate the nature, benefits and requirements of the Association Agreements”, the MEPs concluded.