EP strongly in favour of association with Eastern neighbourhood countries if all conditions are met

If the requirements are met, the European Union should sign the Association Agreement with Ukraine at the November Eastern Partnership Vilnius Summit and provisionally implement it immediately upon signature, states the Report on the European Neighbourhood Policy-East adopted today by the Foreign Affairs Committee of the European Parliament. The Report, authored by Jacek Saryusz-Wolski MEP, also expresses Parliament's intent to proceed with the full ratification of the EU-Ukraine Association Agreement within the present legislative term and recommends proceeding swiftly with the Association Agreements with Moldova and Georgia.

“The situation is not good but not hopeless either. The assessment of the situation in the Eastern Partnership countries as far as their integration with the EU is concerned depends to a high degree on the aspirations, choices and capacities of the six concerned countries. The Vilnius Summit will not be the end of the process, just the beginning. We need to look beyond Vilnius. The Association Agreements are not a goal themselves but a tool of a profound transformation. More importantly is what happens afterwards: and that means what happens with the implementation of the Agreements, what will happen with countries which will initial the Agreements and those who are in the second speed group: Belarus, Armenia and Azerbaijan”, said Jacek Saryusz-Wolski.

The Report is an assessment of the European Commission 2012 progress reports for the European Union Eastern Neighbours. It regrets that the recent state of play presents a mixed picture. It also recalls that the respect of democracy is a red line and therefore criticises cases of selective justice which deprive the citizens of their legitimate right of political choice.

“European integration is not an economic nor technical exercise. It is about a civilisational choice. Therefore, those governing in the Eastern partnership countries should redouble their efforts towards the fulfilment of political, legal and economic criteria and contribute to societal change by enshrining fundamental values of democracy, the rule of law and human rights in their societies. Moreover, the goal of the EaP has always been to create a ring of friends between the EU and the EaP countries and among the EaP countries themselves”, he added.

As for the EU, the Report recommends complementing the current approach to Eastern Neighbours with positive competition among partner countries, being demanding towards governments while being open towards citizens, encouraging citizens to act in favour of values the EU is based upon thus becoming the main source of normative power transformation. It recommends that the Eastern Partnership countries redouble their efforts.

“What we are offering to those countries is not a quick time solution, it is a long term endeavour and long lasting partnership, with its consequences. The offer on the table represents more than half membership, more than Poland got when it was negotiating its AA with the Union in the 90s. The current ‘new generation AAs’, as we call them, stand for the transposition of more than 70% of the acquis communautaire, i.e. EU law and standards. If we succeed in the Eastern Partnership, we hope that Russia will the next country to change, to Europeanise and to adopt EU values”, concluded Saryusz-Wolski.