EU leaders approve 'Eastern Partnership' policy
The leaders of 27 EU member states have approved a project of Europe's neighborhood policy towards six eastern neighbors proposed by Poland and Sweden.
The decision was taken during the EU summit in Brussels on June 19-20.
"The European Council agrees with the need to develop further the regional cooperation of the European Union with the neighbors in the East", the summit's resolution said.
The Eastern Partnership project envisages the creation of a forum of regional cooperation between the European Union and Ukraine, Moldova, Georgia, Azerbaijan and Armenia. At the moment, Belarus will be represented at the level of experts only. The implementation of the project should lead to the abolition of the visa regime between EU and the above mentioned countries and to the creation of a free trade zone, according to the project's authors. In early June, the Eastern Partnership project was sent to the Belarusian foreign ministry.
Belapan notes that different from other neighbors of the European Union, Belarus is just a formal member of the European Neighborhood Policy. Belarus has not signed a bilateral agreement on partnership and cooperation. There is also no plan of action to outline the funding for projects in Belarus in the framework of the program. Brussles supports independent media and Belarusian students and funds cross-border projects in Belarus.
The decision was taken during the EU summit in Brussels on June 19-20.
"The European Council agrees with the need to develop further the regional cooperation of the European Union with the neighbors in the East", the summit's resolution said.
The Eastern Partnership project envisages the creation of a forum of regional cooperation between the European Union and Ukraine, Moldova, Georgia, Azerbaijan and Armenia. At the moment, Belarus will be represented at the level of experts only. The implementation of the project should lead to the abolition of the visa regime between EU and the above mentioned countries and to the creation of a free trade zone, according to the project's authors. In early June, the Eastern Partnership project was sent to the Belarusian foreign ministry.
Belapan notes that different from other neighbors of the European Union, Belarus is just a formal member of the European Neighborhood Policy. Belarus has not signed a bilateral agreement on partnership and cooperation. There is also no plan of action to outline the funding for projects in Belarus in the framework of the program. Brussles supports independent media and Belarusian students and funds cross-border projects in Belarus.
