The Eastern Partnership Eastern dimension of the ENP Regional aspects of cooperation

1. The Eastern PartnershipEastern dimension of the ENPRegional aspects of cooperation Jakub Urbanik External Relations Directorate General European Commission

2. Six countries involved The Eastern Partnership was launched on 7 May 2009during the summit in Prague EU’s offer is addressed to: • Armenia • Azerbaijan • Belarus • Georgia • the Republic of Moldova • Ukraine

3. The goals of the Partnership EU strategic initiative that opens new chapter in relations with Eastern neighbours: • Responds to the aspirations of these countries to get closer to the EU and consolidate their statehood; • Provides long term vision and detailed work-plan; • Upgrades EU’s engagement; • Offers stronger and more practical supportfor acceleration of democratic and market-oriented reforms, legislative approximation and further economic integration; • Promotes stability, good governance and economicdevelopment What the EaP is NOT about: • Anti-Russian • Crypto-enlargement (but without prejudice to individual aspirations of participating countries for their future relationship with the EU)

4. EaP operates on multilateral track … Four thematic platforms Democracy, good governance & stability (including JLS) Economic integration and convergence with EU policies Energy security Contacts between people Flagship initiatives Integrated Border Management Programme; SME Facility; Regional electricity markets, improved energy efficiency and increased use of renewable energy sources; Prevention of, preparedness for, and response to natural and man-made disasters; Environmental government.

5. …and bilateral track: • Association Agreements, • Comprehensive Institution Building Programme; • Deep and comprehensive Free Trade Areas; • “Mobility and security pacts” to promote legal movement of people with as a long term goal full visa liberalisation; • Enhanced cooperation on enrgy security • Economic and social development (Eastern Partnership Communication, chapter 3.5): • Eastern Partnership countries should be able to draw on the experience and mechanisms of EU economic and social policies. An offer in this regard was presented in the Platform 2 in November 2009

6. Possible cooperation on the regional level Strengthening of the Partner countries participation in the INTERREG territorial cooperation programmes (Central Europeand South- East Europe programmes), incl. developing direct contacts between the EU and Partner countries’s regions Establishing the regular dialogue on the regional policy between the EU and the Partners, incl. the technical assistance, know-how in regional policy planning, studies Pilot projects/programmes Cooperation through the Committee of the Regions, which is invited to establish an Eastern Europeand South Caucasus Local and Regional Assembly and will participate in the work of the thematic platforms

7. Plans to enhance the cooperation on the regional level Widening of the current CBC programmes to the borders between the Partner countries (bilateral/regional):

8. Initial thoughts and challenges… • Introduction of the direct cooperation between the Partners (without the explicit involvement of the MS) – lessons learned from current programmes would be crucial for potential establishment of such programmes ; • Some borders are already covered by the existing programmes, some not; new plans would rather build upon existing structures • Problematic issue of management; • Necessity of political will and pragmatic approach not to compromise the idea

9. Possible gains Full ownership of the CBC cooperation and equal treatemnt of the Partners Possibility to open this cooperation to other Partners Confidence building tool for the local populations Another step in the development of this particular form of cooperaton (possibly not only in the East) Experience from the Balkans is positive

10. Eastern Partnership Webpage http://ec.europa.eu/external_relations/eastern/index_en.htm Contact us: enp-info@ec.europa.eu