Territorial integrity principle not included in Eastern Partnership Declaration
The final text of Eastern Partnership Declaration to be signed in Prague was modified during the EU Summit in Brussels. Project member-states were defined as "Eastern European partners" or "partner countries", and simplified visa regime among EU member states was extended for a longer term. As reported by Euobserver, Germany and the Netherlands forced the changes, concerned that "European countries" sounds too pro-enlargement.
Meanwhile, Georgia and Azerbaijan failed to push in a clause that the 33 countries should respect each other's "territorial integrity". Instead, the document calls on parties to obey principles and norms of international law.
According to Alexander Vondra, Prime Minister of Czech Republic, French President Nicolas Sarkozy, British Prime Minister Gordon Brown and Italian and Spanish Prime Ministers Silvio Berlusconi and José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero won't attend the summit.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel will represent Germany, and José Manuel Barroso will represent the European Commission.
Meanwhile, Georgia and Azerbaijan failed to push in a clause that the 33 countries should respect each other's "territorial integrity". Instead, the document calls on parties to obey principles and norms of international law.
According to Alexander Vondra, Prime Minister of Czech Republic, French President Nicolas Sarkozy, British Prime Minister Gordon Brown and Italian and Spanish Prime Ministers Silvio Berlusconi and José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero won't attend the summit.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel will represent Germany, and José Manuel Barroso will represent the European Commission.
