Eastern Partnership Riga summit: parliaments call to ensure security and stress the EU perspective
The need to ensure security in Europe and the European perspective for the Eastern partners were stressed by presidents of Eastern Partnership parliamentary body “Euronest” when they addressed Heads of EU and its Eastern partner states and governments in Riga on Friday. Co-presidents Hautala and Dolidze in their addresses condemned the Russian aggression and called for more efforts to resolve conflicts in neighbourhood, visa-free regimes and more unity among EU member states.
“Our utmost must be done to ensure security and peace, and to restore trust in Europe. That implies to remain firm but open to all opportunities of a constructive dialogue with Russia”, said co-president representing the EU component of the “Euronest” MEP Heidi Hautala (Greens/EFA, FI).
She also stressed recognition of a "clear European perspective for the partner countries, who wish to join EU."
MP Victor Dolidze from Georgian parliament who represents the Eastern component of the Euronest in his address condemned the illegal annexation of Crimea by Russia and aggressive military actions by Russia in Ukraine and called the EU leaders of importance to establish visa-free regimes between the EU and Eastern Partner countries', to spread the European values.
“Euronest” unites 60 MEPs and 60 MPs from Eastern Partnership countries, namely, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Moldova, Ukraine. The 10 seats reserved for Belarus parliament members in “Euronest” are currently empty for political reasons.
Please find below the full speaking notes of co-presidents of the Euronest Parliamentary Assembly Ms Hautala and Mr Dolidze as delivered in Riga on 22.05
Mr Victor Dolidze:
- 2014 was an important year for the Eastern Partners, as it brought constructive developments for us. We welcome Association Agreements/DCFTAs with Georgia, Moldova, that entered into force and the commitment of European Union and Ukraine to enforce it as from January 2016.
- We believe, that all Member States of the EU and the Eastern Partners are committed to the principles of independence, sovereignty, territorial integrity and inviolability of borders of every state.
- We condemn the illegal annexation of Crimea by Russia and aggressive military actions by Russia in eastern Ukraine.
- Engaging in or continuing the reforms in the field of governance, the judiciary and public administration are essential for the partner countries, as well as increasing the impact of Eastern Partnership for the benefit of the societies.
- With the purpose of enhancing the parliamentary role in the reform processes, the parliaments of Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine have recently signed in Tbilisi a joint declaration with the contribution of Konrad Adenauer Foundation.
- Let us also underline the importance of free movement between people, therefore visa-free regimes for Eastern Partner countries' citizens to the EU will positively impact on bringing our citizens closer, and spreading the sense and experience of the European values.
- Since that, things have changed dramatically. Today, Georgia is more democratic, more developed and more consolidated around European values.
- We need visa to Europe, as Europe needs Georgia for unified, secure and strong European Future.
Ms Heidi Hautala:
- As parliamentarians representing the multilateral assembly of the Eastern Partnership, we recognize a clear European perspective for the Partner countries, who wish to join EU.
- Today, while the aggression of Russia against Ukraine is on-going, the first demand is to do our utmost in order to ensure security and peace, and to restore trust in Europe. That implies to remain firm but open to all opportunities of a constructive dialogue with Russia.
- Much more effort must be spent to help resolving conflicts and to shape new mutually beneficial relations among the EU, Eastern Partners and their neighbours. The EU will become a successful driving force in this course only if it maintains unity among its Member States.
- The Eastern Partnership has been founded on European values and fundamental freedoms. The current challenges posed by internal or external destabilising forces should not divert us from trying to reach our ideals. Let me stress that free media and civil society organisations should independently play their role, give their say and stimulate those processes.
- In three weeks' time, the first European games will be opened in Baku. This event takes on a particular importance for the people of Azerbaijan and the relations between our European nations. I would like to call on the Azerbaijani government to seize the opportunity of the games to make decisions following this spirit and in accordance with its commitments to the Eastern Partnership, and the European Convention on Human Rights.
- We should work out differentiation of cooperation formats, but should maintain inclusiveness and create new avenues for regional dialogue. There should be the new guiding principles of the EaP after this Summit, according to which the financial resources of the EU for this policy should be reassessed.