Eastern Partnership policy beyond 2020. Reinforcing Resilience – an Eastern Partnership that delivers for all

Summary:

Joint Communication published by the European Commission and the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy on 18 March 2020, setting out the long-term policy objectives for the Eastern Partnership (EaP) beyond 2020.

Further information:

The Eastern Partnership (EaP) is a joint initiative of the European Union (EU), its Member States and Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Moldova, and Ukraine. It was first launched in 2009. It aims to strengthen and deepen the political and economic relations between all sides.

Over the years, the EaP was instrumental in bringing the EU and the partner countries closer together. The EaP Summit of November 2017 in Brussels marked a new approach with the adoption of the common reform agenda titled 20 Deliverables for 2020. In May 2019, the European Commission launched a consultation on the future of the EaP. The European Council endorsed this approach in June 2019. The consultation ran until the end of October 2019.

The Joint Communication draws on that consultation and on feedback from the partner countries. It outlines how to address common challenges and how the EU is to work together with the partner countries in different policy areas in the future. The document outlines the new long-term policy for the Eastern Partnership beyond 2020 and sets out the measures that aim to strengthen resilience, foster sustainable development and deliver tangible results for society.

• Primary Source

News

EurActiv, 09/03/2020: Eastern Partnership’s champions expect more from the ‘geopolitical Commission’ https://www.euractiv.com/section/eastern-europe/news/eastern-partnerships-champions-expect-more-from-the-geopolitical-commission/

RFE/RL, 10/03/2020: EU May Direct More Funding For Eastern Partnership Nations To Reducing Russian Energy Dependence https://www.rferl.org/a/eu-may-direct-more-funding-for-eastern-partnership-nations-to-reducing-russian-energy-dependence/30480325.html

EurActiv, 19/03/2020: Eastern Partnership: Bilateral track to ensure tailor-made approach https://www.euractiv.com/section/armenia/news/eastern-partnership-bilateral-track-to-ensure-tailor-made-approach/

---

Official

European Commission: Press Release, 18/03/2020: Eastern Partnership: Commission proposes new policy objectives for beyond 2020 https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/ip_20_452

European Commission: Q&A: The Eastern Partnership policy beyond 2020 (18 March 2020) https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/qanda_20_453

---