EU approved Eastern Partnership

PanARMENIAN.Net - European Union leaders endorsed a new "Eastern Partnership" that will allow the bloc to boost its aid to six former Soviet states by 600 million euros (814 million dollars), EU business reports.



"Our dream has come true, we have been able to adopt the Eastern Partnership," said Czech Foreign Minister Karel Schwarzenberg, whose country currently holds the EU's rotating presidency. "There were different views but we managed to strike an agreement that's a great victory, not just for the countries concerned, but in particular for the EU itself," he told reporters after a summit in Brussels.



The partnership is aimed at boosting democratic reform and the economies of Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine. Its official launch is set for May 7, although doubts remain about Belarus' involvement.



The project has been one of the cornerstone's of the Czech Republic's six-month presidency, and has had the strong backing of Poland and Sweden.

"We got the 600 million euros!" said Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski, who has long sought that sum, claiming it was the "absolute minimum" for the EU to help stabilize these states hit hard by the economic crisis.



France has been reluctant to approve such a budget, out of concern it might undermine support for Mediterranean nations that Paris favors.



But doubts remain about whether Lukashenko will be invited to a May summit in Prague, when the six countries are expected to attend the inauguration of the eastern partnership.



"That will depend on the behavior of Mr Lukashenko and the Belarus government in the coming weeks, but Belarus should be in the Eastern Partership," Schwarzenberg said.