EMI Sec Gen: Eastern Partnership countries have unique opportunity to take up lessons

PanARMENIAN.Net - The Eastern Partnership had an ambitious start in Prague in 2009 but it has met with some difficulties ever since, Secretary General of the European Movement International said.

“This year, combining the European Neighborhood Policy review with the Second Summit of the Eastern partnership next week in Warsaw is a unique opportunity to take up the lessons on the Partnership and get a number of things right. The EMI would like to see the Summit making very concrete progresses in five different areas: financial assistance; Association, and Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Agreements; sectoral cooperation; regional cooperation; and, last but not least, negotiations on visa facilitation and visa-free regimes,” Mr. Diogo Pinto told a PanARMENIAN.Net reporter when commenting on his expectations from the summit to be held in Warsaw late September.

Asked what practical steps can be expected from EU in the context of enlargement of EU mandate in the region, he said: “The EMI Congress in October is an independent initiative and isn’t linked to any EU-related strategy to increase its presence in the South Caucasus. The EMI hopes, however, that the Congress will be able to contribute to the debate and to identify the areas where Civil Society sees the need and the opportunity for a more important presence and involvement of the EU in the Region, and in the countries of the Eastern Partnership in general.”

Dwelling on the main goals to be accomplished during the Congress in Yerevan in October 20-21, Mr. Pinto stated: “First and foremost, the EMI wishes to provide a stage for the Civil Society Organizations of the countries concerned to express their views on the situation they face in each of the countries and in the Region in general; to engage in a dialogue with their respective authorities and the European representatives regarding the process of European integration of their countries; and to come up with proposals and suggestions on how their role could be fostered and their contributions made more efficient. We also hope that the Congress will be an opportunity for strengthening the dialogue among the Civil Societies Organizations of the Region and between them and their partners in the EU and other Western European countries. And, finally, we would like to use this occasion to show the vitality of the Civil Society in the Region and offer an opportunity for public recognition of its value and role, as well as to promote and consolidate the European Movement as a meeting point and a cooperation space for all those who wish to contribute to an ever united Europe that includes the countries of the Eastern Partnership too.”