The FINANCIAL — Parliamentary responses to radical change in the EU’s eastern neighbourhood, driven by Russian aggression in Ukraine but also by EU association deals with Ukraine, Moldova and Georgia, will be debated by MEPs and Eastern Partnership countries’ MPs at the fourth ordinary session of the Euronest Parliamentary Assembly in Yerevan, Armenia, this week.
“During the six years of the Eastern Partnership’ss existence the political context has changed, notably due to the Russian aggression in Ukraine. We have to reflect on new forms of cooperation, such as in the energy security area, which is an issue both for the EU and its partners in the east. The EU’s current reflection on its Energy Union could offer chances for that”, said Euronest Assembly Co-president Heidi Hautala (Greens, FI).
“The talks in Yerevan – both formal and informal – will shape the joint message that the EU and its eastern neighbours’ parliaments will send to the Riga summit in May, where historic new decisions on the region’s future are to be taken”, she added.
Besides framing a message to the Eastern Partnership summit in Riga (Latvia), MEPs and MPs from the parliaments of Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Moldova, and Ukraine are to take a common stance on the Russian aggression in Ukraine, according to EU.
The parliamentarians will also discuss the take-up of the EU financial aid, the progress of reform in Eastern Partnership countries, and the implementation of association agreements signed with the EU.
Other agenda items include road, rail and energy cooperation projects and intercultural dialogue to bring societies in Europe’s east and west closer together.
Discussion about this post