Three of our partner countries, Ukraine, Moldova, and Georgia, have begun their EU accession. This is a clear acknowledgement of the effectiveness of Eastern Partnership policy to bring these countries closer to EU. – Oliver Varhelyi said in his address to Euronest Parliamentary Assembly, Brussels.
Here is the transcript for the video message delivered by the Commissioner at the Euronest PA’s opening:
“Honorable Members of Parliament and distinguished guests, It is a pleasure for me to address the 11th Session of the Euronest Parliamentary Assembly. Let me begin by thanking you all for your commitment to the Eastern Partnership framework, especially in these challenging times. The EU is firmly united in its support of Ukraine and the Ukrainians as they continue to defend their freedom. We will never tire of our efforts to support Ukraine.
“We’ve also experienced a challenging period in the South Caucasus with the displacement of more than 100 thousand people from Nagorno-Karabakh. The EU and its members work quickly to provide emergency humanitarian assistance to refugees. We also work with the Armenian Government and international financial institutions to assist them in their long-term integration, including housing.
“At the moment, there is a chance to achieve a sustainable peace in the area. The EU is ready to continue its mediation and to invest in cross border connectivity, if conditions allow it to benefit all people in the area. We have also worked to strengthen our relations with Armenia, and increase security cooperation, sectoral works and investment. With COP 29 on the horizon, our agenda with Azerbaijan is to move towards a greener transition and to invest more in renewables.
“Let me also greet representatives of Belarusian Civil society who continue to demonstrate remarkable resilience in face of the brutal crackdowns of the Lukashenko government. Unquestionably, the EU has given priority to its support of the Belarusian people. It includes support for civil society in various sectors, as well as support for the democratic opposition in Exile.
“Despite these challenges, and uncertainty, three of our partners – Ukraine Moldova and Georgia – have now started their EU Accession. This is a clear indication of the effectiveness of Eastern Partnership policy to bring these countries closer towards the EU. After 15 years, the Eastern Partnership is still delivering meaningful results in different areas that make a difference to the lives of the citizens in the region. The Eastern Partnership has also been adapted to rapidly-evolving challenges, becoming a flexible regional dialogue and cooperation framework.
“In this context we have increased our engagement in security and good governance, as well as in socio-economic recovery, as well as further investing in green and digital transformations, energy independence, and health resilience. “Through the Eastern Partnership we also support our accession partners in this region and make progress on the enlargement pathway,” he said.
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