Lithuania welcomes EC determination to strengthen relations with ENP countries

PanARMENIAN.Net - On 2 April European Commission issued a Communication to the Parliament and the Council "Implementation of the European Neighborhood Policy in 2007" and published progress reports concerning the reforms implemented by the states participating in the European Union's Neighborhood Policy - Armenia, Azerbaijan, Egypt, Georgia, Jordan, Lebanon, Moldova, Palestine, Syria, Tunisia and Ukraine.



Lithuanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs welcomes European Commission's determination to continue cooperation based on close mutual relations with the countries which had expressed their willingness and have necessary capabilities.



This European Commission's Communication perfectly reflects Lithuanian intention to support further strengthening of relations between Ukraine, Moldova, states of the Southern Caucasus and the European Union, the Ministry said in a publication posted on its website.



"It is very important to evaluate properly the progress of the eastern EU neighbors in implementation of the Neighborhood Action Plan in the future also. In their turn these countries should continue to implement internal reforms and strengthen bilateral relations with the EU," Lithuanian Minister of Foreign Affairs Petras Vaitiekunas said.



In the document adopted by the European Commission the progress of the partner states in such spheres as political cooperation, economy, migration, energy, transport, scientific research, mobility of students and young people is reviewed. The Commission drew attention to existing problems especially in the areas of corruption, protection of human rights and independence of the judiciary.



It is marked in the Commission's report that four countries, Ukraine and Moldova among them, made remarkable progress in implementation of reforms provided in the action plans. Moldova actively carries out its commitments and shows strong political will to continue the work started. It is marked in the Communication that taking into consideration the conclusions of the Council of February 2008 the EU is ready to start negotiations on the new Enhanced Agreement with Moldova. In development of relations between the EU and Ukraine the Commission plans to continue the launched negotiations on the new Enhanced Agreement which includes closer free trade cooperation.