Foreign ministers and their representatives of Baltic and Visegrad countries, Bulgaria, Romania, Slovenia, and Sweden note significance of Eastern Partnership [25 Nov 2008]

On 24 November the meeting of foreign ministers and representatives of the Baltic states, the Visegrad Group countries (the Czech Republic, Poland, Slovakia and Hungary), Bulgaria, Romania, Slovenia, and Sweden was held in Warsaw, Poland.

One of the aims of this gathering of foreign ministers was to prepare for the upcoming meeting on 6 December of the heads of governments of the Baltic states, Visegrad countries and Bulgaria, Romania, and Slovenia, during which the prime ministers are planning to focus debates on the climate and energy package and on recommendations for the French EU Presidency prior to the European Council meeting in December. "Latvia jointly with other European Union countries is making efforts so as to achieve, during the European Council's December meeting, a solution on emission trading which would be acceptable to all, and that the Kyoto protocol progress should be taken into account", states Foreign Minister Maris Riekstins.

A significant issue for discussion during the ministers' meeting was the Eastern Partnership initiative started by Sweden and Poland, which is aimed at the strengthening of co-operation with Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine, and thereby the further development of the Eastern dimension of the European Neighbourhood Policy. The ministers were of one opinion that the conflict in Georgia last August had more than ever showed up the necessity to strengthen stability and security, both in South Caucasus and in the region as a whole.

Foreign ministers also talked about the Common Agricultural Policy and the review of the EU budget, and discussed relations between the EU and Russia. Likewise the ministers drew attention to the upcoming EU-Brazil Summit on 22 December.

At the close of the meeting, the foreign ministers adopted a joint statement, where they expressed support for the intensive work of the French EU Presidency in the realisation of the common interests of the union, as well as for the priorities that have been put forward for 2009 by the next presiding Member States, the Czech Republic and Sweden. In the statement the ministers particularly emphasize their support for closer EU co-operation with its eastern neighbours through the initiative of the Eastern Partnership, thus expressing a readiness to advance the European integration of Georgia, Moldova, and Ukraine, as well as signalling openness to a dialogue with Belarus and partnerships with Armenia and Azerbaijan.

Full text of the Joint Statement of the Visegrad Group Countries, Bulgaria, Estonia, Lithuania, Latvia, Romania, and Sweden is available here.

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