EURONEST PARLIAMENTARY ASSEMBLY

Plenary session            01.11.2017

RESOLUTION

on the future of the Eastern Partnership - combating hybrid challenges and security threats together

The Euronest Parliamentary Assembly,

–having regard to the launch of the Eastern Partnership in Prague on 7 May 2009 as a common endeavour of the EU and its eastern partners Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Moldova und Ukraine and the Joint Declarations of the Eastern Partnership Summits of 2011 in Warsaw, of 2013 in Vilnius and of 2015 in Riga,

–having regard to the recommendations by and activities of the Euronest Parliamentary Assembly, of the Eastern Partnership Civil Society Forum, and

of the Committee of the Regions and the Conference of Regional and Local Authorities for the Eastern Partnership (CORLEAP),

–having regard to the European Commission and European External Action Service (EEAS) communications on the European Neighbourhood Policy (ENP) and the conclusions of the Foreign Affairs Council on the ENP and Eastern Partnership,

–having regard to its resolutions, notably those of 21 January 2016 on Association

Agreements/Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Areas with Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine and of 9 July 2015 on the review of the European Neighbourhood Policy,

–having regard to the Joint Statement of the Parliaments of Georgia, Moldova and

Ukraine, Joint Communique of the Chairman’s of the Committees on European

Integration of the Parliaments of Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine,

A.

Whereas, tense geopolitical environment which provoke new sophisticated challenges for EU member-states and Eastern partner-countries, from economic to security threats,

B.

Whereas, the need for defense of European values, namely primacy of democracy and respect of the human rights for the peace development and prosperity of the whole Continent and commitments of partner-countries to deepening their relations and adhering to international law and fundamental common values in order to increase political dialogue,

C.

Whereas, that Eastern partnership is a strategic dimension of the European

Neigbourhood policy and a key element for stability and sustainable development of the Continent,

D.

Whereas, the different levels of the bilateral relations between the EU and partner-countries and diverse development in implementation of European standards in their domestic laws,

E.

Whereas, full entry to the force of the Association Agreements including a Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area with Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine, their noticing progress in relations with EU and European choice of the partners concerned, as stated in the Association Agreements

F.

Whereas, independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity of some of the EU eastern partners is under threat from unresolved regional conflicts which are actively sustained by the Russian Federation and they could be resolved through diplomacy and honest engagement,

G.

Whereas, Russia’s aggressive and expansionist policy towards partner-countries concerned which has resulted in the illegal annexation of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea and the City of Sevastopol, as well as illegal occupation of Abkhazia, Tskhinvali Region/South Ossetia and some regions of the Donetsk and Luhansk oblasts, in breach of international law and bilateral agreements as well as Russia’s commitments and obligations within its membership in international organizations,

H.

Whereas, the serious implications of Russian aggression against Ukraine, the illegal annexation of Crimea for overall security in Europe, that hundreds of Ukrainian citizens in the temporarily occupied territories, who have been illegally detained, arrested, sentenced and imprisoned by the Russian authorities and their proxies, has been increasing and reminds, that Ukraine has almost 1.8 million internally displaced persons and that 5 million people are affected by the conflict;

1.

Calls to react unanimously and strategically to the consequences of the challenging geopolitical situation, provoked by Russia and elaborate the efficient mechanisms to restore peace in areas of protracted conflicts,

2.

Reiterates strong support for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine,

Georgia and Moldova within their internationally recognized borders;

3.

Condemns the violation of the human rights and fundamental freedoms in the annexed and occupied territories of partner-countries;

4.

Underlines the need for urgent advocacy, legal and financial support to Ukraine,

Georgia and Moldova in resolving the situation with internally displaced persons; calls for the immediate release of Ukrainian political prisoners in Russia Federation, encourage the exchange of prisoners;

5.

Reiterates the principles of flexibility and individual approach and that the scope of co-operation with the EU is determined by its ambitions and those of partners;

6.

Welcomes, entry into force of the Association Agreements including a Deep and

Comprehensive Free Trade Area with Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine and the new

Comprehensive and Enhanced Partnership Agreement between the European Union and Armenia and the ongoing negotiations between the European Union and Azerbaijan for a new framework agreement, appreciates that the EU's critical engagement with Belarus has become more comprehensive, including within the EU-Belarus Coordination Group, the Human Rights Dialogue and the Dialogue on Trade;

7.

Calls for close political association and economic integration, including the participation in the EU programmes as well as recognize that AA’s with Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine do not constitute the final goal in their relations with EU and to acknowledge their European aspirations;

8.

Calls to agree new strategic long-term goals for EaP Summit in Brussels in November 24, 2017 that will formulate the comprehensive agenda of cooperation for the next biannual period and beyond;

9.

Reiterates its principal position towards the necessity to reflect in the Draft Brussels declaration the European aspirations and European choice of the Partners concerned, as stated in the Association Agreements;

10.

Makes a particular stress that other strategically important elements should be included into the Brussels declaration such as

-development of trans-border cooperation and people-to-people contacts,

-bolstering energy security,

-the harmonization of digital markets,

-client-oriented business support organizations and setting up of a new regional economic diplomacy framework for increased trade and investment promotion across the region,

-further promoting the security sector reforms, implementation of integrated border management, disrupting organized crime, tackling hybrid threats, countering terrorism and preventing radicalization, enhancing cyber-security, and strengthening disaster prevention,

-enhancing, where appropriate, security dialogue and the cooperation in the area of