Eastern Partnership Declaration signed in Prague

PanARMENIAN.Net - The Heads of State or Government and representatives of the Republic of Armenia, the Republic of Azerbaijan, the Republic of Belarus, Georgia, the Republic of Moldova and Ukraine, the representatives of the European Union and the Heads of State or Government and representatives of its Member States have met in Prague to bring their relationship to a new level by establishing the Eastern Partnership and have adopted a Joint Declaration on May 7.



It says that the Eastern Partnership is launched as a common endeavor of the Member States of the European Union and their Eastern European Partners (hereinafter the partner countries), founded on mutual interests and commitments as well as on shared ownership and responsibility. It will be developed jointly, in a fully transparent manner.



The main goal of the Eastern Partnership is to create the necessary conditions to accelerate political association and further economic integration between the European Union and interested partner countries. The significant strengthening of EU policy with regard to the partner countries will be brought about through the development of a specific Eastern dimension of the European Neighborhood Policy. With this aim, the Eastern Partnership will seek to support political and socio-economic reforms of the partner countries, facilitating approximation towards the European Union. This serves the shared commitment to stability, security and prosperity of the European Union, the partner countries and indeed the entire European continent.



European Commission President Jose Barroso described the Eastern Partnership as a political initiative serving the European Union strategic interests.



Much should be done and in some countries should be done more than in others, Barroso said, adding that coming closer to European standards would bring these countries greater stability and prosperity.



EU High Representative for Common Foreign and Security Policy Javier Solana said several times at the press conference that the Partnership project was not aimed against anyone.



It is the Partnership for cooperation and stability in the important part of Europe, Solana said.