Eastern Partnership

Eastern Partnership
Name	Eastern Partnership

Eastern Partnership is a joint initiative of the European Union and six Eastern European countries, including Ukraine, Belarus, Moldova, Georgia, Azerbaijan, and Armenia. The partnership aims to strengthen and deepen the European Union's relations with these countries, promoting democracy, stability, and economic development in the region, as envisioned by Javier Solana, Benita Ferrero-Waldner, and Carl Bildt. The Eastern Partnership is closely linked to the European Neighbourhood Policy and the Black Sea Synergy initiative, which also involve Romania, Bulgaria, and Turkey. The partnership has been supported by various European Union institutions, including the European Commission, the European Parliament, and the Council of the European Union, as well as by individual countries like Poland, Sweden, and Germany.

Introduction

The Eastern Partnership was launched in 2009, with the aim of promoting economic integration, energy cooperation, and people-to-people contacts between the European Union and its eastern neighbors, including Ukraine, Belarus, and Moldova. The partnership is based on the principles of democracy, human rights, and the rule of law, as enshrined in the United Nations Charter and the Helsinki Accords. The Eastern Partnership has been influenced by the European Union's experience in promoting integration and cooperation in other regions, such as the Balkans and the Mediterranean, where countries like Greece, Cyprus, and Malta have played a key role. The partnership has also been shaped by the European Union's relations with other international organizations, including the Council of Europe, the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe, and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization.

History

The idea of the Eastern Partnership was first proposed by Sweden and Poland in 2008, with the aim of strengthening the European Union's relations with its eastern neighbors, including Ukraine, Belarus, and Moldova. The partnership was officially launched in 2009, at a summit in Prague, which was attended by the European Union's High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Javier Solana, and the European Commission's President, José Manuel Barroso. The partnership has since been supported by various European Union institutions, including the European Parliament, which has passed several resolutions in support of the partnership, and the Council of the European Union, which has adopted several decisions and conclusions related to the partnership. The Eastern Partnership has also been influenced by the European Union's relations with other countries, including Russia, Turkey, and the United States, as well as by international events like the Ukrainian Orange Revolution and the Georgian-Russian War.

Member_States

The Eastern Partnership consists of six member states, including Ukraine, Belarus, Moldova, Georgia, Azerbaijan, and Armenia. These countries have all signed association agreements with the European Union, which provide a framework for cooperation in areas like trade, energy, and justice, as well as for the participation of these countries in European Union programs and agencies, such as the European Investment Bank and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development. The member states of the Eastern Partnership have also been involved in various regional initiatives, including the Black Sea Economic Cooperation and the GUAM Organization for Democracy and Economic Development, which aim to promote economic cooperation and stability in the region, with the support of countries like Romania, Bulgaria, and Turkey. The Eastern Partnership has also been influenced by the European Union's relations with other regional organizations, including the Eurasian Economic Union and the Commonwealth of Independent States.

Objectives_and_Priorities

The Eastern Partnership has several objectives and priorities, including the promotion of democracy, human rights, and the rule of law in the partner countries, as well as the strengthening of economic integration and energy cooperation between the European Union and its eastern neighbors, including Ukraine, Belarus, and Moldova. The partnership also aims to promote people-to-people contacts and cultural exchanges between the European Union and the partner countries, as well as to support the development of civil society and independent media in these countries, with the help of organizations like the European Endowment for Democracy and the Open Society Foundations. The Eastern Partnership has been influenced by the European Union's experience in promoting integration and cooperation in other regions, such as the Balkans and the Mediterranean, where countries like Greece, Cyprus, and Malta have played a key role. The partnership has also been shaped by the European Union's relations with other international organizations, including the Council of Europe, the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe, and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization.

Summit_Meetings

The Eastern Partnership summit meetings are held every two years, and bring together the leaders of the European Union and the partner countries to discuss the progress of the partnership and to set new priorities and objectives, as envisioned by Herman Van Rompuy, José Manuel Barroso, and Catherine Ashton. The summit meetings have been held in various locations, including Prague, Warsaw, Vilnius, and Riga, and have been attended by high-level representatives of the European Union and the partner countries, including Angela Merkel, François Hollande, and Vladimir Putin. The Eastern Partnership has also been influenced by the European Union's relations with other countries, including Russia, Turkey, and the United States, as well as by international events like the Ukrainian Orange Revolution and the Georgian-Russian War.

Criticism_and_Challenges

The Eastern Partnership has faced several criticisms and challenges, including the lack of a clear vision and strategy for the partnership, as well as the limited resources and funding available to support the partnership's objectives and priorities, as noted by Radosław Sikorski, Carl Bildt, and Štefan Füle. The partnership has also been criticized for its limited impact on the ground, particularly in areas like democracy and human rights, where progress has been slow and uneven, according to Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, and the European Court of Human Rights. The Eastern Partnership has also faced challenges from external factors, including the Russian annexation of Crimea and the conflict in eastern Ukraine, which have had a significant impact on the region's stability and security, as well as on the European Union's relations with Russia and other countries in the region, including Belarus, Moldova, and Turkey. The partnership has also been influenced by the European Union's relations with other international organizations, including the United Nations, the Council of Europe, and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization.

Category:International organizations