Today something from the recent Polish news.

Delegations of 32 EU Member States and partner countries as well as representatives of the main European Union institutions debated for two days on the future of the Eastern Partnership and reviewed its achievements since it was launched two years ago. The purpose of the summit was to provide a strong political signal on the increasing integration of the EU’s Eastern neighbours into Europe. At the same time, summit participants evaluated the achievements of the Partnership to date which have contributed to the convergence of the partner countries towards European norms, standards and values and facilitated their political association with, and economic integration into the EU.

The Warsaw meeting concluded with the adoption of a joint declaration, which sends a legible signal to the six partners: the European Union is willing to assist them and talk about their European aspirations and forms of tighter integration.

The Summit participants concurred that the strengthening of the Eastern Partnership – including its more generous financing – is essential today, even though the EU is grappling with the economic crisis and has committed itself to building a new strategy for countries of the South.

The political pledges were backed by concrete actions.  European Commission President José Manuel Barroso revealed that the Partnership countries could expect increased funding: “The European Commission has proposed additional funds that will allow further development of the Eastern Partnership. Total financing of the Partnership has now reached almost €2 billion.”

It is equally important that Summit participants agreed that the ongoing negotiations with Ukraine on an association agreement and a DCFTA agreement should be wrapped up by the end of the year and that similar negotiations should be started with Moldova and Georgia.  The Partnership countries were promised visa-free travel to the EU, as soon as they were ready.  Furthermore, an Eastern Partnership Public Administration Academy is to be established in Warsaw, to assist with the building of democratic institutions in the partner countries.

Belarus was one of the debate’s focal points at the Warsaw Summit. The European Union underlined its tough, common stance of the issue.  Assistance to Belarus would be possible only on condition of fundamental changes in that country.

Do następnego razu… (Till next time…)