How to help the Eastern Partnership countries?

Today the European Parliament adopted a resolution on pressure exercised by Russia on the Eastern Partnership countries (EaP countries) in the context of the upcoming Summit in Vilnius. The MEPs reaffirmed their strong support for initialling and signing the Association Agreements and DCFTAs at the summit with those EaP countries which are ready provided that all the requirements are met. At the same time, the Parliament has strongly condemned the pressure exercised by Russia on the EaP countries and reminded that the EU is ready to support their efforts on the way to the integration with the Union.

"On my request, there is a point in the text of the resolution in which the European Parliament agrees to the provisional application of the relevant parts of the DCFTA upon signing the Association Agreement", said Paweł Zalewski, Vice-chairman of the Committee on International Trade and member of the Committee on Foreign Affairs.

The DCFTA is the major part of the Association Agreement. It is the European Council that decides about implementing provisional application. However, its decision needs consent from the European Parliament.

"The provisional application of the DCFTA will allow Ukraine to quickly adopt the European standards and will open up the European market for Ukrainian goods. This is very important in view of increasing pressure from Kremlin and commercial blockade of Ukraine by the authorities of the Russian Federation. Now the decision is in the hands of the Council and I hope that it will be taken at the beginning of next year", added Mr. Zalewski.

The MEPs pointed out that the Association Agreements and DCFTAs are aimed at boosting the competitiveness and economy of EaP countries, while respecting their economic cooperation with Russia.

"It is not about undermining the long-standing trade relations that the EaP countrieshave established in the region. Let's not forget that it could be a win-win situation, if we cooperate with each other", concluded Paweł Zalewski.