From 13 to 14 May, the 10-year anniversary of the Eastern Partnership (EaP) was held in Brussels. High EU officials and the countries from the Eastern partnership (Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine) attended the conference. The conference was comprised of three major events: The opening ceremony, where the president of the European Council, Donald Tusk, held a speech; the meeting of the EaP foreign ministers hosted by the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Federica Mogherini; and the high level conference hosted by the president of the European Commission Jean-Claude Juncker.

Welcoming remarks by Donald Tusk at the celebratory dinner

President of the European Council, Donald Tusk, held the opening speech at the celebratory dinner marking the 10th anniversary of the EaP. In his speech, Tusk highlighted that the idea and the name of the Eastern Partnership were conceived by the Polish minister of foreign affairs, Radek Sikorski, in close collaboration with his Swedish counterpart, Carl Bildt.

“Today, after ten years, we can reflect on our achievements. Three of the six Eastern Partnership countries have Association Agreements that include deep and comprehensive trade exchanges. They also have visa-free arrangements with the EU. Billions of euros have been spent on border management, connectivity, environment and energy efficiency, support for business, legal advice, and education. Young people from the Partnership countries participate in Erasmus. Much more still needs to be done, but there is no doubt that our partner countries moved come closer to the EU, more than our other neighbours”, Tusk said.

“As we celebrate our tenth anniversary, we are making a strong commitment to deepening our ties and cooperation. What kind of Eastern Partnership we will celebrate ten years from now depends on what we do, starting today. And I have trust in our common determination and imagination”, he concluded.

Mogherini: continuing the strategically important and ambitious partnership

The celebratory dinner was followed by the ministerial meeting, which was hosted by the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Federica Mogherini. In her concluding remarks, Mogherini reflected on the progress, as well as the future of the partnership.

“Over the years, the Eastern Partnership proved to be an efficient, resilient, tailored and dynamic framework. It has adequately developed, adapted to new challenges, including those to stability and resilience, and ultimately strengthened our mutually beneficial relationship. This partnership benefits us all; 10 years from its creation, it has proven to be a success for our citizens. This positive experience enables us to continue to work jointly and in a spirit of close cooperation to ensure our societies can fully reap all the benefits, from increased prosperity to democracy, stability and security that come from such a partnership. The 20 deliverables set for 2020 further focused on practical cooperation, thereby promoting economic development and market opportunities, strengthening democratic institutions, good governance and the rule of law, promoting connectivity, energy efficiency, environmental protection and climate change mitigation, as well as fostering mobility and people-to-people contacts. Through the Eastern Partnership, EU member states and eastern partners have developed a better understanding of mutual needs, ambitions and expectations,” noted Mogherini.

Mogherini also stated that the partnership faces certain challenges, stressing that the reform, implementation and delivery of the agreed commitments must remain the key priority of the partnership. “We need to continue the structured reflection and engage in an inclusive and broad consultation process on our future cooperation agenda… Let us demonstrate our shared determination to develop the EaP agenda beyond 2020, ensuring that we will remain stronger together”, she said.

At the ministerial conference, the ministers of foreign affairs of Georgia, Armenia and Azerbaijan were also present. Each of them held a speech highlighting the key achievements, priorities and future challenges within the partnership.

Georgia: the frontrunner of European integration in the Caucasus

The delegation of Georgia was led by the minister of foreign affairs, Davit Zalkaliani. Zalkaliani said at the conference that Georgia had used all of the opportunities that were offered to them by the EU.

“We have signed the Association Agreement and the Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area deal with the EU, as well as the visa-free agreement. We are members of an energy unit. We have strengthened sectoral integration with the EU and got involved in the trans-European transport network. Georgia and the EU have unique formats of high-level dialogue and a strategic dialogue of security. Due to the efforts provided by the EU a range of opportunities have been created in the region over the past ten years in the fields of economy, trade, transport, energy communication and for the strengthening of people to people ties”, reads the official statement of the Georgian ministry of foreign affairs.

Zalkaliani met with the European Commissioner for European Neighborhood Policy and Enlargement Negotiations, Johannes Hahn, as well as with the representatives of the French delegation on the sidelines of the conference. The issue of Georgia’s visa-free regime in the EU was discussed. Hahn assured Zalkaliani that everything is going well in regards to Georgia’s visa-free regime in the EU. Parallel to the assurances given by Hahn, Zalkaliani reached an agreement with France on the legal employment of Georgian asylum seekers. He also stressed that Georgia has undertaken certain pilot projects with the International Organization for Migration in order to combat the illegal immigration of Georgian citizens to Europe.

Another achievement by Georgia on the sidelines of the conference was the starting of the EU4Digital programme. The programme aims to support the digital economy in Georgia. It foresees the gradual integration of Georgia into the EU’s Digital Single Market (DSM). The initiative includes improving e-services and the harmonisation of digital frameworks in areas such as logistics, health care, cyber security and digital skills.

The Georgian prime minister, Mamuka Bakhtadze, was also present at the conference. In Brussels, the Georgian PM held a face-to-face meeting with the president of the European Commission, Jean-Claude Juncker, as well as with his Moldovan counterpart, Pavel Filip, the vice-president of the European Investment Bank, Vazil Hudák, and the first vice-president of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, Jürgen Rigterink.

In his opening remarks at the conference, Bakhtadze said the past ten years “had been a remarkable journey” for Georgia, and that the country has achieved a lot on its EU integration path. “The [EU-Georgia] Association Agreement/DCFTA and the visa-free travel are historical accomplishments for Georgia, but at the same time we have a vision to go beyond this success. Georgia is regarded as a frontrunner in the EaP and we think we deserve more. Ten years ago, the EaP was a brilliant idea, it was a brave and a visionary idea, but after ten years we need to have another big idea so that all the nations are confident that they have a tangible benchmark for progress. We also understand that there are challenges within the EU when it comes to the political decisions, but at the same time we think that Georgia is ready to go beyond, and we think that a very tangible step forward will be to start the sectoral integration process”, he said. He also stressed, that the aspiration to join the European family is a civilizational choice, highlighting that 85% of the Georgian population support the European path and that the presented Roadmap to the EU is a clear sign of Georgia’s efforts. He also highlighted the fact that 20% of Georgia’s territory is still being occupied by Russia.

The president of the European Commission, Jean-Claude Juncker, confirmed the fact that Georgia is the leading country of the Eastern Partnership in the field of European integration, stating that Georgia is 100% a European country. He also praised the establishment of the European School in Tbilisi as an opportunity for young people to receive European-level education. The same vision is shared by the first vice president of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD),  Jürgen Rigterink. He stated that Georgia is the region's leader in economic growth. The EBRD's future plans and projects considered by the bank for implementation in Georgia, as well as Georgia’s educational reform, which foresees the allocation of 6% of GDP to finance the sector, were the topics of discussion between Bakhtadze and Rigterink.

Armenia: the pursuit for an enhanced cooperation

The Armenian delegation was led by the minister of foreign affairs, Zohrab Mnatsakanyan. Mnatsakanyan highlighted the importance of expanding bilateral cooperation with the EU. At his speech, Mnatsakanyan underlined three factors of Armenia’s cooperation with the EU. The first was the recognition and perception of the special position of Armenia as a country seeking more flexible and enlarged areas of cooperation based on the EU policy on “differentiation”, and this was marked by the signing of the EU-Armenia Comprehensive and Enhanced Partnership Agreement. The second factor was the importance of common values of Europe and Armenia hinged on a common heritage of civilization, as well as mutual aspirations for sustainable democracy, freedom, dialogue and cooperation. The third and final factor, were the special contributions that Armenia made to the development of democracy and human rights protection in Europe that were fully expressed through the Velvet Revolution.

“We are committed to strengthening our relations with the EU that are hinged on mutual respect, acknowledgement of interests and security considerations and the acceptance of our responsibility for democratic governance and accountability, and at the same time, we expect the support of the EU for the promotion of our reforms, sustainable development and human contacts, including ensuring the movement without a visa and cultural, educational and academic exchanges”, he said.

Mnatsakanyan voiced hope that the EU can play a major role in the development and implementation of more inclusive transport and energy projects with and between partners. He also stressed the importance of the expansion of the digital, environmental, financial and other sector-specific agendas of the EaP. He also warned about the devaluation of the priorities for promoting respect for and protection of human rights and the supremacy of democracy and the rule of law in the territory of the Eastern Partnership. This would hinder and cause severe damage to the concept paper and value-based relations of the Eastern Partnership. Touching upon the current challenges, Mnatsakanyan emphasized that it is necessary to deepen the potential and capacities for cooperation in Europe in order to resist geopolitical competition and confrontation. In regards to the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, the foreign minister attached importance to the ongoing support of the EU to the peaceful settlement of the conflict within the framework of the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairmanship.

Mnatsakanyan also mentioned that the EU visa liberalization for Armenia is at the moment the top priority as it is a major geopolitical choice and a “model stemming from the interests of the (Armenian) people”. ”That's an extremely important issue for us. But it is not the only tool, as we give attention to, and try to develop other opportunities dealing with the contacts in educational, cultural, scientific and other circles, and establishing closer ties between our citizens and their colleagues in Europe to expand the existing opportunities”, he added

Mnatsakanyan commented on the negotiations process between the European Union and Azerbaijan. “The European Union and Azerbaijan are negotiating with each other. Naturally, we [Armenia] are not for [these] negotiations, and here, it seems to me, these are a quite important matter for the European Union: to what extent are they principled and consistent in their stances? In that sense, I will repeat again, we [Armenia] have our contract [with the EU] where the issue of Nagorno-Karabakh has its own expression. I hope and I am confident that the European Union follows the principle of maintaining consistency”, he said.

Prime minister, Nikol Pashinyan, also attended the conference. He had a brief conversation with the president of Azerbaijan, Ilham Alyjev, on the sidelines of the conference. It was later revealed that the situation that has been created at the line of contact was the topic of discussion at the meeting.

Azerbaijan: mutually beneficial economic opportunities with the EU

The minister of foreign affairs of Azerbaijan, Elmar Mammadyarov, led the delegation of his country at the conference. In his speech, Mammadyarov mainly focused on the economic cooperation between the EU and Azerbaijan within the EaP.

“The EU is still the main trading partner of Azerbaijan, taking approximately a 42 percent share of our foreign trade turnover. The EU is also the biggest investor in Azerbaijan. I am proud to say that a traditional joint EU-Azerbaijan Business Forum attracts many representatives of the EU’s various industries and services sector”, he outlined.

“The focus must be put on the benefits and on the potential value added for countries, which have different degrees of political and trade cooperation with the EU. The last summit endorsed the “20 Deliverables for 2020” document with concrete objectives to achieve. We believe that once implemented, those deliverables will have the potential to bring a greater degree of resilience, prosperity, development and connectivity to our region”, he added. “But the “20 Deliverables for 2020” have to be discussed between equal partners. Success of that process will depend on tangible results. Some of those goals are also in line with Azerbaijan’s strategic roadmaps on key sectors […] As the result of reforms carried out and the improved business climate, Azerbaijan ranks 25th in the world, according to the latest 'Doing Business Report' published by the World Bank. Also, according to the assessment of the Davos World Economic Forum, Azerbaijan is ranked 34th with respect to the quality of growth”, he added.

A special mention was given to the judicial reforms in Azerbaijan. He highlighted the recently adopted State Program on the Development of Justice 2019-2023, which aims at further legislative and structural measures to improve the performance of the judiciary.

The field of transport and the ongoing infrastructure projects were also highlighted at Mammadyarov’s speech. “In the field of transport, the extension of the indicative maps of the Trans-European networks to Azerbaijan and further to Asia can provide a solid platform to promote regional trade corridors together. In fact, port and rail administrations, as well as some private logistics companies from Georgia, Ukraine, Poland, Romania, Austria, and Germany are already in Azerbaijan as part of several regional trade corridors. Many Europeans are interested to partner up with Azerbaijan in this strategic trade area. Azerbaijan goes beyond its land borders to create a stronger trade dynamic across the wider region, and is doing so despite being a landlocked country. Therefore, we have established credible partnerships with ports in the Netherlands, Belgium, Italy, and Romania, just to name a few […] (also), the Trans-Adriatic Pipeline (TAP) is in the very final stage of construction”, concluded Mammadyarov.

The delegation of Azerbaijan expressed its discontent with the adopted jubilee declaration of the 10th anniversary of the EaP. At the first plenary meeting Mammadyarov stated that the draft declaration was not sufficient for Azerbaijan. “This text is not enough for us, when we are talking about the principles which are enshrined in the Helsinki Final Act, and the UN Charter. That’s why there was an agreed upon decision that the high commissioner will put this out as her own statement without making references to the other delegations”, said Mammadyarov.

As a result, the document was only signed by the high representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Federica Mogherini, and not, as planned, by all participants of the ministerial meeting. In addition, during the discussion of the text, Georgia and Ukraine also expressed dissatisfaction with the fact that it did not contain Brussels recognition of the 'European aspirations' of individual countries of the Eastern Partnership. This resulted in the lowering of the status of the final declaration to the status of “Chair's Final Remarks.”

Fuad Isgandarov, the ambassador of Azerbaijan to Belgium and Luxembourg and head of the Azerbaijani Representation to the EU, explained in the aftermath why the delegation expressed its dissatisfaction with the draft of the final document. According to Isgandarov, the adoption of the final document at the ministerial meeting in Brussels was not envisaged at all. The discussions that were held during the nomination of proposals for the adoption of a single document by the Eastern Partnership and all EU member states and European institutions were procedural in nature. Discussions were centered on whether the document would be concise or extended, comprehensive, and attentive to all points, as it was the case at previous summits. Azerbaijan was a supporter of the full reflection of the fundamental issues of all countries - members of the EU and the countries of the Eastern Partnership in the event of the adoption of the final document. In this context, the issue of independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity of all Eastern Partnership countries was jointly proposed by Azerbaijan, Georgia and Moldova, but did not appear in the final version. However, the document contained references to documents of previous summits and thus reflected the above principles.