Stefan Fule, European Commissioner for Enlargement and European Neighbourhood Policy, said that efficient realization of the program passed at the Warsaw summit on September 29-30, 2011, is a priority for the EU, Trend reports.
Association agreements are the main instruments for realization of the Eastern Partnership program. Negotiations on concluding such deals continue with Azerbaijan, Moldova, Georgia and Armenia. They may be concluded in autumn 2013.
Another initiative is the visa-free regime. The EU plans to increase financial support for public organizations and more investments in young people of the Eastern Partnership states. Erasmus Mundus is expected to be activated.
The European Union plans to speed up formation of a free trade zone in the south.
Fule noted improvements in democracy, protection of human rights and freedom in the region.
Financial support for democracy, economic development and contacts of people reached €600 million. The European Investment Bank and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development contribute to developments.
Fule reminded that the EU HR and the European Commission published an action plan for the Eastern Partnership to optimize realization of its goals and better monitoring.
The Eastern Partnership is a Polish-Swedish initiative to improve EU relations with Azerbaijan, Armenia, Georgia, Moldova, Belarus and Ukraine.
