Celebrating 10 years of the Eastern Partnership

On 14 May, the European Union, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, the Republic of Moldova and Ukraine marked the 10^th anniversary of the Eastern Partnership with a High Level Conference in Brussels. The conference celebrated the achievements of the last ten years in the EU’s relationships with its six Eastern partners, and started discussions on the future strategic direction of the partnership, to continue delivering concrete results for citizens.

The High-level Conference was hosted by the President of the European Commission, Jean-Claude Juncker and brought together Heads of State or Government and Foreign Ministers of the partner countries, Foreign Ministers of the European Union Member States, civil society representatives, business leaders, young people and journalists from across the 34 countries. The High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy/Vice-President of the European Commission, Federica Mogherini, the Commissioner for European Neighbourhood Policy and Enlargement Negotiations, Johannes Hahn, and the Commissioner for Trade, Cecilia Malmström, also participated.

“The Eastern Partnership is fundamentally a future-oriented partnership for the citizens and with the citizens; firmly focussed on what is important for them. Together we are working towards stronger economies, stronger governance, stronger connectivity and stronger societies”, said President Juncker. “We have put in place ambitious Association Agreements and Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Areas with Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine and citizens of these countries also benefit from visa free travel for short stays in the EU. 125,000 loans have been provided to businesses in the Eastern Partnership, of which half are in local currency, and we have contributed to the creation of over 30,000 jobs in the region. And our trade has increased with each of the six Eastern Partnership countries, which together are the EU’s 10^th trading partner. I would like us to continue to focus on the content of what we believe we should do together so that our Partnership can keep its promises.”

The full speech of President Juncker is available online.

A partnership that delivers

The first panel of the conference reflected on the partnership’s main achievements over the past ten years.

Commissioner Hahn said: “We are celebrating a decade of strong commitment of EU Member States and its six partners to strengthen cooperation, bring real change to people’s lives and strengthen reform processes. The Eastern Partnership enables all six partners to address issues of common interest with the EU. For that purpose, we have set out the “20 deliverables for 2020” vision focussed on stronger economy, governance, connectivity and society.The Eastern Partnership will be marked this year by key achievements and a clear vision for the future; continuing to focus on tangible benefits for citizens will remain a key priority in the years to come.”

The full speech of Commissioner Hahn is available online.

The panel consisted of the President of Ukraine, Petro Poroshenko, the Ministers of Foreign Affairs of Azerbaijan, Belarus, Poland and Sweden, Elmar Mammadyarov, Vladimir Makei, Jacek Czaputowicz, and Margot Wallström respectively, and a business representative, Maurice Beckand Verwee. Together with participation from the audience, they reflected on the progress made under the ambitious 20 Deliverables for 2020 work plan, a common agenda adopted at the last Eastern Partnership Summit of November 2017. A factsheet highlighting 10 major successes over the past 10 years and an overview of the implementation of the 20 Deliverables for 2020 are available online.

A future-oriented partnership

The second part of the conference provided the opportunity to launch discussions on the future of the Eastern Partnership.

“In these ten years, we have shown what a partnership with the European Union is all about: positive change in the lives of our people, particularly the young ones”, said High Representative/Vice-President, Federica Mogherini. “We made it easier travel to the EU, increased trading opportunities for businesses, and increased mobility for academics and students. Our friendship today is much more mature than it used to be. We are much more focused on what truly matters to our citizens. Their priorities will continue to be the focus of our friendship.”

The full speech of High Representative/Vice-President Federica Mogherini is available online.

The second panel comprised the the Prime Minister of Georgia, Mamuka Bakhtadze, the Prime Minister of the Republic of Moldova, Pavel Filip, the Ministers of Foreign Affairs of Armenia and Lithuania, Zohrab Mnatsakanyan and Linas Linkevičius respectively, the European Trade Commissioner, Cecilia Malmström, youth representative, Hennadiy Maksak, and was moderated by Member of the European Parliament and Co-President of the EuroNest Parliamentary Assembly, Rebecca Harms. Together with members of the audience, they reflected on some of the major challenges that lie ahead, such as:

Implementing reforms to strengthen the rule of law, the judiciary, and the fight against corruption;
Further protecting the environment and actively tackling climate change;
Increasing societal resilience by countering hybrid threats and disinformation;
Strengthening the environment for civil society and a free and independent media;
Improving the lives of citizens affected by the conflicts in the region;
Finding ways to further increase trade and business opportunities.

The entire High Level Conference is available to watch again online via Europe by Satellite, while photo coverage is also available.

Two days of celebrations in Brussels

The High Level Conference took place a day after the annual Eastern Partnership Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in Brussels, chaired by High Representative/Vice-President, Federica Mogherini, with the participation of the Foreign Ministers of the 28 EU Member States and of the six Eastern Partner countries. Chair’s conclusions on the occasion of the Eastern Partnership’s 10th anniversary stress its importance, celebrate its success and achievements so far, and reflect on the future of the strategic and ambitious partnership.

Also on Monday, the President of the European Council, Donald Tusk, hosted a celebratory dinner for the Heads of State or Government of the Eastern partner countries. President Juncker, High Representative/Vice-President Mogherini and Commissioner Hahn, as well as Radosław Sikorski and Carl Bildt, former Foreign Ministers of Poland and Sweden respectively and initiators of the Eastern Partnership framework back in 2008, the President of Romania, Klaus Iohannis, and the Foreign Minister of Finland, Timo Soini also attended the dinner. In parallel, the “Creating Together” concert took place at the Brussels Centre for Fine Arts, BOZAR, bringing together on one stage the well-known Brussels Jazz Orchestra and musicians from the six Eastern partner countries.

For more information

Factsheet on the Eastern Partnership’s Top 10 Achievements

Keynote speech by President Jean-Claude Juncker at the EaP High Level Conference

Speech by High Representative/Vice-President Federica Mogherini at the EaP High Level Conference

Speech by Commissioner Johannes Hahn at the EaP High Level Conference

Chair’s Conclusions on the occasion of the Eastern Partnership’s 10^th Anniversary

Eastern Partnership – Monitoring of the 20 Deliverables for 2020

Factsheet on myths about the Eastern Partnership

Website of the 5^th Eastern Partnership Summit

Factsheet on EU-Armenia relations

Factsheet on EU-Azerbaijan relations

Factsheet on EU-Belarus relations