# EUR-Lex - 52012JC0013 - EN

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# 52012JC0013

**JOINT COMMUNICATION TO THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT, THE COUNCIL, THE EUROPEAN ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL COMMITTEE AND THE COMMITTEE OF THE REGIONS Eastern Partnership: A Roadmap to the autumn 2013 Summit /* JOIN/2012/013 final */**

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JOINT COMMUNICATION TO THE EUROPEAN
PARLIAMENT, THE COUNCIL, THE EUROPEAN ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL COMMITTEE AND THE
COMMITTEE OF THE REGIONS

Eastern Partnership:
A Roadmap to the autumn 2013 Summit

INTRODUCTION

Cooperation between the EU and its Eastern European
partners - the Republic of Armenia, the Republic of Azerbaijan, the Republic of
Belarus, Georgia, the Republic of Moldova and Ukraine – is a crucial part of
the Union's external relations. The closer partner countries move towards the EU
the greater the opportunity for increasing political, economic and cultural
links both with the Union and among the countries themselves.

The purpose of this Communication is to
present an Eastern Partnership Roadmap as agreed at the Eastern Partnership
Summit held in Warsaw on 29-30 September 2011[1].
The Roadmap is intended to guide work in view of the next Summit due to take place
in autumn 2013.[2]
It covers both the bilateral and multilateral dimensions of the Eastern
Partnership, and is guided by the principles of joint ownership,
differentiation and conditionality.

1.           THE POLICY CONTEXT

1.1. The Eastern Partnership: a
partnership of equals sharing common values

The Eastern Partnership was launched in 2009 at
a summit held in Prague[3],
in an effort by the EU and its Eastern European partners to help promote
political and economic reforms and assist the countries of the region move closer
to the EU. At its basis lies a shared commitment to international law and
fundamental values, including democracy, the rule of law and respect for human
rights and fundamental freedoms, as well as to market economy, sustainable
development and good governance.

Though each country has an individual
relationship with the EU, under the Eastern Partnership umbrella, the EU and
its partners have committed to further developing a multilateral dimension -
involving all EU Member States and partner countries. This multilateral
dimension is intended to strengthen and complement the bilateral track, and
facilitate the development of common positions and joint activities.

The second Eastern Partnership Summit held in
Warsaw in September 2011 reaffirmed the agenda agreed in Prague and
acknowledged that important progress had been made in a number of areas.
However, the Summit participants also recognised that the reform efforts needed
to be reinforced, that the pace of reforms would determine the intensity of
cooperation and that partners most engaged in reforms would benefit most from
their relationship with the European Union. They also called for a renewed
commitment to the shared values.

It is essential to make changes on the
ground, to build sustainable democratic institutions, resolve peacefully
protracted conflicts and to create a solid foundation for sustainable and
inclusive economic growth and job creation. Progress towards deep and
sustainable democracy is crucial in terms of future relations between the EU
and its Eastern European partners.

Particular emphasis was put on the need for
engagement with societies as a whole. Civil society is a fundamental element in
a well-functioning democratic system. EU support for and engagement with civil
society in Eastern European countries is therefore being significantly strengthened.

These aspects are therefore emphasised in the
proposed Roadmap.

1.2.        Objectives

The main goal of the Eastern Partnership is
to create the conditions to accelerate political association and deepen economic
integration between the EU and the Eastern European partner countries. The
Eastern Partnership Summit in Warsaw acknowledged the European aspirations and
the European choice of some partners and their commitment to build deep and
sustainable democracy. It highlighted the particular role for the Eastern
Partnership to support those who seek an ever closer relationship with the EU.[4] The Eastern Partnership also aims
to promote regional co-operation and good neighbourly relations. These aims support
the shared commitment to stability, security and prosperity of both the EU and the
partner countries. In support of these over-arching goals, the EU and its
Eastern European partners will:

·
Forge new, deeper contractual relations
between the EU and partner countries in the form of Association Agreements,
including, where appropriate, Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Areas (DCFTAs)
where regulatory approximation can serve to strengthen the positive effects of
trade and investment liberalisation, leading to convergence with EU laws and
standards.

·
Support the mobility of citizens and visa
liberalisation in a well managed and secure environment. The mobility of citizens of the partner countries will be promoted
through visa facilitation and readmission agreements as a first step with visa-free
regime as a final goal.

·
Enhance sector cooperation and facilitate the participation of partner countries in EU
programmes and agencies.

The Eastern Partnership addresses the issue
of unfinished transformation. It helps partners to accomplish their transition
towards democracy and a market-oriented economy by supporting their reform
process.

2.           IMPLEMENTING THE NEW
APPROACH

The Roadmap aims to translate the “more for
more” principle of the renewed European Neighbourhood Policy into practice. The
more a partner country makes progress, the more support it will receive from
the EU. This will include increased funding for social and economic
development, larger programmes for comprehensive institution building, greater
access for partner countries to the EU internal market, increased EU financing
towards investments, including EIB loans as well as EU budget grants blended
with loans from EIB and other IFIs and enhanced
policy dialogue. Progress on reforms will be assessed in the annual ENP country
reports.

Progress towards reforms will be assessed
according to specific criteria which reflect the commitments already undertaken
through the existing agreements between the EU and partner countries including
those in ENP Action Plans/Association Agendas. The EU will take a holistic view
of its relations with partners, including efforts to tackle instability and
conflict in the region.

The Roadmap will be accompanied by
additional funding under the “more for more” principle. A new programme called
EaPIC (Eastern Partnership Integration and Cooperation) is being set up, with
an indicative allocation of 130 million EUR for 2012-13. This is in addition to
the 2010-13 EU commitment to the Eastern European partners worth 1.9 billion EUR.
The budget allocation for the participation of the Eastern European partners in
higher education cooperation programmes (Erasmus Mundus and Tempus) will be doubled
for Erasmus and substantially increased for Tempus. EaPIC will focus on
promoting democratic transformation and institution building and sustainable
and inclusive growth and increased confidence building measures.

3.           THE ROADMAP: A
DYNAMIC TOOL TO MONITOR the joint commitment to reform and PROGRESS

The Eastern Partnership Roadmap, together
with the two tables in the attached documents will
allow both the EU and the Eastern European partner countries to guide and monitor
reform and progress.

The Roadmap itself sets out:

· the objectives jointly agreed by the EU and its Eastern
European partners under the Eastern Partnership framework arising from the 2009
Prague and 2011 Warsaw Summit Declarations;

· the reforms and progress that the partner countries would aim
at to meet the objectives of the jointly agreed steps contained in the relevant
Association Agendas and ENP Action Plans;

· the various instruments and support that the EU will provide
through EU financial cooperation and policy dialogue;

· an indication of how far the EU and the partner countries expect to
have come in achieving the objectives by the end of the second half of 2013,
through the identification of targets, outputs or timelines.

4.           THE BILATERAL SECTION OF THE
ROADMAP

The Roadmap’s bilateral table focuses on
the following main jointly agreed objectives:

–
political association and economic integration

–
enhanced mobility of citizens in a secure and
well managed environment

–
strengthened sector cooperation.

For each of these three objectives, the
bilateral section of the Roadmap table aims to identify the kinds of policy
measures the partner countries would need to take, based on existing jointly
agreed documents such as Association Agendas and ENP Action Plans as well as
the support the EU can provide.

· Objective 1: Political association and economic integration

Implementation of common values

The bilateral section enumerates the key
criteria for assessing the implementation of the common values. It sets out, on
the one hand, the main actions by partner countries as identified in jointly
agreed documents, such as Association Agendas and, on the other hand, the
support offered by the EU.

Where does the Eastern Partnership
stand now?

Negotiations with Ukraine on an Association
Agreement, including a Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area, have been
finalised, and the agreed text was initialled on 30 March 2012. Negotiations of
Association Agreements have been launched with the Republic of Moldova, Georgia,
Armenia and Azerbaijan, and are advancing well, while the decision to launch
negotiations on DCFTAs[5],
as an integral part of the Association Agreements, with Georgia and Moldova was
taken in December 2011 and with Armenia in February 2012.

Expected achievements by autumn 2013

Following the finalisation of the
negotiations on the EU-Ukraine Association Agreement at the Summit in December
2011, both sides reached a common understanding that Ukraine’s performance,
notably in relation to respect for common values and the rule of law, will be
of crucial importance for the speed of its political association and economic
integration with the EU, including in the context of the conclusion of the
Association Agreement and its subsequent implementation.

By the autumn of 2013, negotiations on
Association Agreements with the Republic of Moldova, Georgia, Armenia and
Azerbaijan should be well advanced, if not finalised. DCFTA negotiations with Armenia,
Georgia and the Republic of Moldova should be well advanced, if not finalised, and
substantial progress should have been made in the area of regulatory
approximation, in accordance with the Commission’s recommendations. Azerbaijan
should have made progress towards WTO accession as a precondition for starting DCFTA
negotiations.

To support the process of preparing for and
implementing Association Agreements, including where appropriate DCFTAs, the EU
and Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia and the Republic of Moldova respectively
should agree Association Agendas in 2013.

Throughout the negotiation process, the EU
will provide policy dialogue and financial support to partners, including
through Comprehensive Institution Building programmes. The progress made
towards the political reforms needed to implement the Eastern Partnership’s common
values, and the overall state of EU relations with partner countries, will have
a bearing on the pace with which partners will be able to benefit from a closer
relationship with the EU. The forthcoming parliamentary elections in Armenia,
Georgia and Ukraine will be milestones for consolidating democracy in these
countries.

The EU expects to see credible and
sustained efforts towards the earliest possible peaceful settlement of the conflicts
in Georgia, the Transnistrian conflict in the Republic of Moldova and the
conflict over Nagorno-Karabakh. The EU confirms its commitment to remain
engaged and involved in the stabilisation and conflict resolution efforts in
Georgia, including by continuing its engagement as co-chair in the Geneva
Discussions, the efforts of the EUSR for South Caucasus and the crisis in
Georgia and the continued presence of the EU Monitoring Mission (EUMM). As
regards the Transnistrian conflict, the EU fully supports the on-going
mediation efforts of the 5+2 format under OSCE aegis, in which it participates.
The EU also fully supports the mediation efforts of the OSCE Minsk Group for
the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, where the EU is not a member. The EU reiterates
its support for the Madrid principles and calls on Armenia and Azerbaijan to step
up their efforts to reach agreement on those principles as a basis for peace. The
EU is stepping up its co-operation with partner countries concerned and
strengthening its support for confidence building measures as well as measures
to improve the lives of the people affected by the conflicts. Progress in the
political association and economic integration of partners with the European
Union will be beneficial for conflict settlement efforts and stability in the
region.

The EU will remain strongly committed to
strengthening engagement with the Belarusian people and civil society. Bearing
in mind the current state of EU-Belarus relations, the EU will increase its support
for Belarusian civil society and democratic political forces through a
dedicated “European dialogue on modernisation” which was launched in Brussels
on 29 March 2012 as a sign of the EU’s firm commitment to supporting the
democratic aspirations of the Belarusian people. The EU will continue to
monitor the situation in Belarus closely and will remain committed to the
policy of critical engagement, particularly through dialogue and the Eastern
Partnership. The development of bilateral relations will remain conditional on
progress being made by Belarus in its respect for the principles of democracy,
the rule of law and human rights. At the same time, and in the light of further
developments, the EU stands ready to consider further targeted measures in all
areas of cooperation, as appropriate.

· Objective 2: Enhanced mobility in a secure and well managed
environment

Where does the Eastern Partnership
stand now?

Having implemented visa facilitation and
readmission agreements with the EU since 2008, the Republic of Moldova and
Ukraine are now implementing Visa Liberalisation Action Plans. Mobility
Partnerships are in place with Georgia and the Republic of Moldova, and more
recently with Armenia. Since March 2011, Georgia has been successfully
implementing visa facilitation and readmission agreements. The European
Commission started in March 2012, following a mandate obtained from the Council
of Ministers of the EU in December 2011, negotiations on similar agreements
with Armenia and Azerbaijan. A similar offer,
made to Belarus in June 2011, would benefit the Belarusian population at large
but the authorities in Minsk have not responded to it. In order to facilitate
the issuing of visas to the Belarusian public, EU Member States strive to make
optimal use of the flexibilities offered by the Visa Code, in particular the
possibilities to waive and reduce visa fees for certain categories of
Belarusian citizens or in individual cases.

Expected achievements by autumn 2013

It is anticipated that negotiations on visa
facilitation and readmission agreements with Armenia and Azerbaijan could be
concluded. The EU remains ready to launch negotiations on such agreements with
Belarus. The establishment of a Mobility Partnership with Azerbaijan could be
envisaged. Effective implementation of visa facilitation and readmission
agreements and effective cooperation in a wide range of justice and home
affairs areas could lead to the start of negotiations on Visa Liberalisation
Action Plans, very shortly with Georgia, and later on also with Armenia and
Azerbaijan. The EU plans to start a visa dialogue with Georgia shortly. Visa
liberalisation with the Republic of Moldova and Ukraine will depend on the
implementation by the two countries of their respective Visa Liberalisation
Action Plans.

· Objective 3: Enhanced sector cooperation

The sector coverage which follows is indicative
and non-exhaustive. More details on enhanced sector cooperation are provided in
the tables. The informal Eastern Partnership Dialogues to be held twice a year
with the partner countries (explained in detail in section 5 below) will also
contribute to enhancing the level of bilateral sector cooperation.

Participation in EU programmes and
agencies

Where does the Eastern Partnership
stand now?

The EU has signed protocols with the
Republic of Moldova and Ukraine, which provide the legal basis for their
participation in the EU programmes that are open to ENP partners. The Republic
of Moldova has been associated to the 7th EU Framework Programme for Research
and Technological Development since January 2012. Cooperation or efforts to
strengthen cooperation between EU agencies and the Eastern European countries
have moved forward, particularly in the area of justice and home affairs and
aviation safety.

Expected achievements by autumn 2013

The EU will facilitate partner countries’
participation in the work of EU agencies and the EU programmes
which are open to them on the basis of the relevant Communication of the
Commission[6].
By the end of 2013, protocols allowing further Eastern Partnership countries to
participate in EU programmes will have been negotiated based on mutual
agreement. The Commission will have supported partner countries in fulfilling
the legislative pre-requisites for participation in EU agencies and will have made
support available to cover some of the costs associated with participation in
the work of EU agencies and programmes.

Energy

Where does the Eastern Partnership
stand now?

Sector reforms aimed
at enhanced energy security are underway. Initial steps are being taken to
integrate Eastern European countries and EU energy markets, enhance network
interconnections between the EU and the Eastern partnership countries, diversify
supply sources and routes, improve energy efficiency and the use of renewables.
A start has been made on the approximation of sector legislation and regulation
to some elements of the EU internal energy market rules. Ukraine and the
Republic of Moldova are members of the Energy Community, a powerful tool for
integration. Georgia and Armenia are observers. Nuclear safety improvements are
ongoing in Ukraine and Armenia. Both countries undertook, following the
Fukushima accident in 2011, to voluntarily perform, ‘stress tests’ on the basis
of EU specifications. Belarus also committed itself to carry out nuclear safety
and risk assessments for its nuclear power plant project.

Expected achievements by autumn 2013

To strengthen the energy partnership,
an inclusive and open policy on energy security, transportation and supply will
be promoted. Sector policy reforms should have considerably advanced allowing
progress towards integrating energy markets. Further synergies with the activities of the Energy Community Treaty will be
encouraged. Energy networks of common interest (natural gas, oil, electricity)
should have been further developed, in terms of planning and actual construction,
including concrete steps towards the realisation of the Southern Gas Corridor,
a strategically important infrastructure to ensure the diversification of
energy supply routes from the Caspian Sea to the European market. Partners
would have stronger energy efficiency and renewable energy policies and
projects in place. Ukraine and Armenia should have further improved the safety
of their nuclear power plants and should have completed the ‘stress tests’.

Transport

Where does the Eastern Partnership stand
now?

While transport sector reforms
covering all transport modes have been started, they are far from complete. Most
countries are gradually aligning with EU transport standards. A high level of
transport safety, security and social standards is crucial for closer
integration of the partner countries in the EU’s transport system.

In the aviation sector, negotiations on comprehensive air services agreements have been
concluded with Georgia and the Republic of Moldova and are about to start with
Azerbaijan. Negotiations with Ukraine are advancing. Improving maritime
safety remains a challenge, as the flags of most partner countries remain
on the black list of the Paris Memorandum of Understanding on Port State Control
that measures Flag State performance. Road safety in the partner
countries is of concern, as mortality rates from road traffic injuries are
considerably higher than in the EU. The potential of rail transport
could be further exploited through higher interoperability with the EU’s rail
systems. The smooth travel of people and flow of goods between the EU and
partner countries is challenged by bottlenecks in infrastructure. The EU and
partner countries are cooperating on infrastructure planning to ensure
connections between transport networks.

Expected achievements by autumn 2013

Transport sector reforms should have
ensured greater approximation to EU transport standards. Negotiations on air
services agreements should have been concluded with a number of countries,
while other negotiations should be on-going or upcoming and implementation should
have been followed up. Maritime safety and security should have improved
through policy reform and flags would have improved in terms of the Paris
Memorandum on Port State Control. The partner countries should be able to
demonstrate improved track records in road safety, as well as concrete steps in
improving rail interoperability with the EU. Transport links with the EU should
have improved through better planning of networks and work on priority infrastructure
projects that help to connect the partner countries with the Trans-European
transport network.

Freedom, justice and security

Where does the Eastern Partnership
stand now?

In this area, bilateral
cooperation has developed incrementally. Cooperation was initiated with Ukraine
first, on the basis of a specific EU-Ukraine sectoral Action Plan. The Mobility
Partnerships with the Republic of Moldova and Georgia have become examples of
the strengthening of ties and activities in the broader area of migration, thus
contributing to the signature of a Mobility Partnership with Armenia in October
2011. There has been increased regional cooperation on border management, in
the context of the EU Border Assistance Mission to the Republic of Moldova and
Ukraine (EUBAM) and the Southern Caucasus Integrated Border Management (SCIBM)
project. EUBAM has also continued to provide for appropriate monitoring of the
situation around the Transnistrian region of the Republic of Moldova. Asylum,
the fight against organised crime, trafficking in human beings and money
laundering as well as corruption, data protection and judicial cooperation have
been on the agenda of the EU and Eastern European partners in recent years. Dialogues
on drugs were launched in 2011 with the Republic of Moldova, Armenia and
Azerbaijan. In December 2011, the EU reiterated its intention to further
strengthen sector cooperation, within the Eastern Partnership framework,
including collaboration on anti-drugs issues. Furthermore, as stated in the European
Commission's Communication on Cooperation in the Area of Justice and Home
Affairs within the EaP, the possibility of convening regular meetings at
Ministerial level on JHA issues as appropriate in the interest of the
cooperation may also play a role in ensuring relevant political guidance and
coordination, in order to achieve progress in particular areas of work[7].

Expected achievements by autumn 2013

In line with the European Commission’s
Communication on Cooperation in the area of JHA within the EaP and the relevant
Council Conclusions[8],
progress can be expected on promoting legal migration through
appropriate regulatory work and legislation enforcement. In asylum matters,
legislation would have been introduced and administrative structures and procedures
set up, ensuring effective protection. The relevant legislative framework to combat
irregular migration, including readmission, would have been completed, and
effective implementation measures carried out.

The fight against trafficking in human
beings would be put into practice performed by fully implementing relevant
international Conventions, along with integrated border management
carried out on the basis of best practices and international agreements. Considerable
progress would have been made in combating organised crime, and financial
crimes, including terrorist financing, in tackling illicit drugs trade and
corruption, and in data protection by establishing effective legislation backed
by thorough enforcement measures.

Regional development, agriculture and rural
development

Where does the Eastern Partnership
stand now?

In the field of regional policy, a dialogue
is in place with Ukraine and dialogues have recently been launched and work
programmes agreed with Georgia and the Republic of Moldova. Large programmes on
regional development are ongoing in Ukraine and Georgia and discussions are
ongoing with the governments of Armenia and Azerbaijan on their respective
regional development strategies in view of preparing Pilot Regional
Development Programmes (PRDPs). For Moldova, preparations are at a final
stage and the programme will be launched in 2012. In the field of agriculture
and rural development, sectoral dialogues are taking place in the relevant
sub-committees under the Partnership Cooperation Agreements. To strengthen the
cooperation in the field of agriculture with partner countries, the Commission
has started work on a general approach to support this sector through a European
Neighbourhood Programme for Agriculture and Rural Development - (ENPARD).

Expected achievements by autumn 2013

In the field of regional development,
progress should have been made in implementing work programmes, and dialogues
may have been launched with other interested partners. In most partner countries,
PRDPs will be in their implementation phase. As regards agriculture and rural
development, preparatory work on sector overview
studies to launch ENPARD will have been carried out. It is expected that
ENPARD will help partner countries to operate more effectively in foreign
markets, to benefit fully from the future DCFTAs, and to stimulate farming
domestically. In that framework, the Commission will be engaging in close
policy dialogues with partner countries to promote long-term agricultural and
rural development strategies in close cooperation with all relevant
stakeholders. To that end, a study will be launched, to review, with the
partner countries, their rural and agricultural policies and strategies and
identify with them possible areas of future support, providing a solid basis
for the further identification of ENPARD programmes in the Eastern European
partner countries. In parallel, in Georgia, a large programme of 40 M EUR in
the agriculture sector “Support to the agriculture sector – ENPARD Georgia” is
being finalised. Further ENPARD cooperation programmes will be considered in
the framework of the programming exercise to be launched this summer, based on
the assessment of ongoing rural development programmes such as the above
mentioned one in Georgia and the ones in Azerbaijan (Agricultural and rural
development) and in the Republic of Moldova (Stimulating development in rural
areas).

In addition, the EU is ready to cooperate
more closely with coastal partner States on maritime policy inter alia
to ensure the sustainable use of fisheries resources.

Environment and climate change

Where does the Eastern Partnership
stand now?

Cooperation on environment and climate
change covers a broad range of topics, such as green economy, biodiversity, a shared
environmental information system, and environmental assessments. An overriding
goal is to support regulatory approximation, strengthen administrative
capacities and implementation, and implement multilateral environmental
agreements.

Expected achievements by autumn 2013

Partner countries should have progressed
considerably in preparing themselves for convergence with crucial EU
environmental legislation. They should have improved their administrative
set-up and made progress in establishing a comprehensive system for environmental
data collection.

5.           THE MULTILATERAL SECTION
OF THE ROADMAP

The multilateral dimension of the Eastern
Partnership is designed to support and reinforce the bilateral objectives of
the Partnership. It provides a forum for sharing information on and experience
of the partner countries’ steps towards transition, reform and modernisation.
As a tool to advance integration with the EU, it allows partners to benefit
from an additional instrument to aid reform efforts and facilitate legal
approximation. As reaffirmed in the Warsaw Summit declaration, the Eastern
Partnership should also further promote stability and multilateral confidence-building
where protracted conflicts still impede cooperation efforts.

This part of the Roadmap document closely follows
the objectives defined by the biennial work programmes of the Eastern
Partnership multilateral Platforms. These fora, attended by senior officials
from EU Member States and the partner countries, engage in policy dialogue on
the following thematic issues: democracy, good governance and stability;
economic developments; energy security; engaging civil society and facilitating
contacts between people across borders. They complement the bilateral agenda of
EU-partner country relations.

The EU has launched a range of flagship
initiatives since the creation of the Eastern Partnership which are regularly
discussed within the relevant multilateral Platform. An assessment of them will
be conducted during 2012-13 and the EU will reflect on possible new flagship
initiatives in the run up to the next Eastern Partnership Summit, in the
framework of programming for the 2014-2020 period, to be implemented from 2014.

Informal Eastern Partnership Dialogues are being put in place as another means of strengthening the link
between the bilateral and multilateral processes, of boosting the sense of
joint ownership of the Eastern Partnership and of fostering a regional dynamic.
These biannual informal multilateral dialogues between the Foreign Ministers of
the partner countries and the EU’s High Representative/Vice President and
Commissioner for Neighbourhood Policy will provide the opportunity for ministerial-level
informal discussions on developments in partner countries, and progress on reform
processes, and allow for monitoring the implementation of the Eastern
Partnership Roadmap. This framework will also provide for informal dialogue
sessions between the relevant sectoral Ministers and EU Commissioners to
strengthen multilateral sector cooperation between the EU and the Eastern European partners.

· Democracy, good governance and stability

Where does the Eastern Partnership
stand now?

Progress has already
been made in the following areas: the fight against
corruption, democracy and human rights, addressing the functioning of the
judiciary, cybercrime, and improving electoral standards. The Platform on Democracy,
Good Governance and Stability has recently launched new expert Panels on Public
Administration Reform and on Migration and Asylum, and adopted their
two year work plans. The Platform is developing ideas on how to improve common
approaches among law enforcement agencies to curb cross-border crime as
well as launch cooperation in the field on Common Security & Defence
Policy (CSDP) issues.

Expected achievements by autumn 2013

Significant progress should have been made
in implementing agreed core objectives of the current Work Programme 2012-2013,
including the two related flagship initiatives. Activities related to
the flagship initiative in the field of Integrated Border Management (IBM)
should have resulted in over 700 border guard and customs officials having
received training and the implementation of a number of concrete pilot projects
at partner country borders should have been launched. In the field of civil protection,
the flagship initiative on Prevention of, Preparedness for, and Response to
natural and man-made disasters (PPRD) should have made significant progress
in developing an Electronic Risk Atlas and made recommendations for improving
the capacities of partner countries for prevention, preparedness and response.

Working closely with the Council of Europe
through the EU-funded Eastern Partnership Facility, the activities of the Platform
on Democracy, Good Governance and Stability and related Panels should have
contributed to an improvement in compliance with European standards in the
field of elections, judicial reform and the fight against corruption as well as
enhancing capacities for tackling cyber-crime. Activities should have been
undertaken to strengthen Ombudsman institutions. Progress in public
administration reform should have been made as a result of the exchanges,
training sessions, seminars and workshops undertaken over the course of
2012-13. Support offered through Cross-Border Cooperation Programmes and
territorial cooperation pilot projects, the activities of the Conference of
Local and Regional Authorities (CORLEAP) and the Panel on Public
Administration Reform should have strengthened capacities of partner
countries at regional and local government level.

The new Migration and Asylum Panel
should have strengthened asylum and migration systems in line with best
practice. Cooperation between law enforcement agencies should have been
enhanced through the launch of the EuroEast Police Project. Exchanges on how to
enhance cooperation on international security issues and CSDP should
have been launched.

· Economic integration and convergence with EU policies

Where does the Eastern Partnership
stand now?

The Platform on economic integration and
convergence with EU policies has assisted partners’ efforts on trade- and trade-related
regulatory approximation, investment climate and SME development. The
Platform’s Panel on Trade and Trade Related Regulatory Cooperation linked to DCFTAs has addressed a wide
range of subjects, to support the trade negotiations taking place under the
Eastern Partnership’s bilateral track. A Panel on Environment and Climate
Change focuses on convergence with EU environment legislation, greening
economies and actions to address climate change. The Platform has set up a
Panel on SME policy and business to business contacts are being
promoted. A Panel on Transport was established in 2011 to strengthen
transport connections with neighbouring countries by facilitating the implementation
of measures set out in the relevant Commission Communication.[9] A Panel on labour market and
social policies is being considered.

Expected achievements by autumn 2013

Work in this field should have contributed
to the progressive approximation of partner countries’ legislation with the
relevant trade and trade-related EU acquis, in the framework of current or
future DCFTA negotiations and implementation. Customs cooperation should
have resulted in more fluid and secure trade lanes, the development of risk
management systems and support for overall customs modernisation, including
convergence with the EU standards in partner countries and progress in the
fight against fraud, especially smuggling of cigarettes. Cooperation in the
field of Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs), including through
the flagship initiative, should have resulted in improved access to advisory
services and investment financing. In the field of information society,
an Eastern Partnership network of regulators will have been established. In the
transport field, efforts should have focused on advancing market
integration and improving interconnections, so as to facilitate passenger and
freight transport. Enhanced dialogue on environment and climate change ought
to contribute to convergence with EU environment legislation, and support
should be provided to build up national emission trading schemes and undertake
climate change pilot projects. The dialogue on harmonisation of taxation
policies and good governance in the taxation area will be continued. A dialogue
on labour market and social policies should be established, with a view
to promote exchanges on employment, social protection and social inclusion
policies, involving public services and social partners as stakeholders. The EU
and partner countries should also continue to cooperate on the promotion and
dissemination of high quality statistics.

Enhanced cooperation with EIB
(European Investment Bank), EBRD (European Bank for Reconstruction and
Development) and other European financial institutions will have
contributed to better leverage EU funding notably for key transport
interconnection projects, including through the EIB Eastern Partners Facility.
The EU is developing further options to support risk capital operations and
guarantee schemes in the Eastern neighbourhood with EIB, EBRD and other European
financial institutions, building on the encouraging experience gained by EU
support granted to the European Fund for SoutheastEurope (EFSE) and the Small
and Medium Enterprise (SME) facility.

· Energy security

Where does the Eastern Partnership
stand now?

The Platform on energy security is working on
its four core objectives: enhancement of framework conditions and solidarity;
support for infrastructure development, interconnection and diversification of
supply; promotion of increased energy efficiency and use of renewable
resources; regulatory framework and approximation of energy policies. Based on the
orientations given by the Warsaw Summit Declaration, the Platform’s 2012-13 work
programme also includes activities aiming to establish and strengthen a
regulatory framework in nuclear safety.

Expected achievements by autumn 2013

Work in 2012-13 should have focused on enhancing
cooperation to integrate competitive energy markets with the
EU market through comprehensive energy sector reforms (policies,
legislation implementation and regulation). Efforts to contribute to the diversification
of energy supplies will also be continued. Significant efforts will be made to
promote energy efficiency and the use of renewables. In all these areas the flagship
initiative on regional electricity markets, energy efficiency and renewable
energy through the INOGATE programme and the Covenant of Mayors will
contribute towards the achievement of the core objectives.

As part of the effort to promote a
stronger nuclear safety culture and develop a solid legally binding
regulatory framework in line with international treaties and conventions, it is
expected that the partner countries concerned will finalise ‘stress tests’ in
the course of 2012.

· Contacts between people

Where does the Eastern Partnership
stand now?

The Platform on contacts between people supports
the interaction between EU and partner countries’ citizens, focusing in
particular on students, academic staff, researchers, young people, and cultural
actors. EU Member States and partner countries have entered into a dialogue on
a number of policies, including youth and culture. Cooperation is organised in
and around a number of EU cooperation programmes, new or existing, in the areas
of education, higher education, research and innovation, youth and culture.
Attention is being paid to modernisation issues, building capacity in research
and innovation, and the mobility of students, teachers, researchers and young
people. The Platform also promotes building cooperative links with the EU in
all areas of research, including research infrastructures.

Expected achievements by autumn 2013

Cooperation to foster contacts between
people should result in increased participation by partner country students and
teachers in EU international higher education cooperation programmes.

For example, it is expected that more than
2300 scholarships will be awarded to partner country students and academic staff
through the Erasmus Mundus programme for the 2012
and 2013 academic years. The convergence of higher education systems, promotion
of school cooperation and collaborative learning will also have increased.
Partner countries should benefit from increased participation in the EU
Youth in Action Programme (through the
opening of a large Eastern Partnership window). The
capacity of officials and civil society actors in partner countries dealing
with youth policy should have been enhanced. Cooperation in the field of
culture will be intensified through the Eastern Partnership Culture
Programme and enhanced policy dialogue,
including expert level seminars as well as a high level event gathering policy
makers and personalities from the cultural scene to be held in 2013.
Cooperation in this context should help in raising awareness in partner
countries on the potential of culture in economic and social development and to
strengthen cross-ministerial cooperation in cultural matters. Cooperation will have
been initiated in the audiovisual sector involving policy makers and
professionals’ representatives.

2012-13 should also see the increased
participation in the EU 7th Research Framework Programme through building
research capacity and improved dissemination of knowledge on funding
opportunities, in particular by the locally appointed focal point contacts and
sharing of best practice on, in particular, the independent peer review of
research proposals. Efforts to improve the links between partner countries national
Research and Education Networks and GEANT will be made. Overall during 2012-13,
efforts will be undertaken to work towards the development of a Common
Knowledge and Innovation Space.

6.           IMPLEMENTATION OF THE
EASTERN PARTNERSHIP OBJECTIVES:
INTERACTING WITH OTHER STAKEHOLDERS

Within the Eastern Partnership,
considerable attention has been paid to engaging with all strands of society.

The Civil Society Forum was
established in 2009 to facilitate the involvement of civil society organisations
in implementing the Partnership. Its role has been recognised by EU Member
States and Eastern European countries, as a result of the decision to invite representatives
of the Civil Society Forum to the four Eastern Partnership multilateral
Platforms as permanent participants. The Forum’s strategy adopted at its annual
meeting in Poznan (November 2011), will help target civil society’s
contributions to the work of the Partnership. National Platforms of the Civil
Society Forum have been established and will contribute to debate at national
level on Eastern Partnership goals in the partner countries. To increase grant
support for civil society organisations in EU neighbouring countries, a new Neighbourhood
Civil Society Facility was set up in September 2011 covering the entire neighbourhood
with an initial budget of 26 M EUR for 2011 and similar amounts planned for
2012 and 2013. Furthermore, the main principles for the establishment of the European
Endowment for Democracy (EED) were agreed by the Council of Ministers of
the EU in December 2011. The EED which will have an initial, although not
exclusive focus on the EU neighbourhood, will help provide additional support
for those who are engaged in democratic causes in the region. The European
Economic and Social Committee (ECOSOC) plays an important role and
contributes to the dialogue with civil society in the Eastern neighbourhood. It
also contributes to strengthening of dialogue with employers' organisations and
trade unions. The promotion of regular meetings of representatives of both EU
civil society as well as civil society of the partner countries is also envisaged
in the Association Agreements under negotiation.

The EURONEST Parliamentary Assembly
established in May 2011 brings parliamentarians from partner countries together
with members of the European Parliament. It contributes to the strengthening,
development and visibility of the Eastern Partnership as the institution
responsible for parliamentary consultation, supervision and monitoring of the
Partnership. Since its establishment, EURONEST has taken a number of measures
to streamline parliamentary debate on the Eastern Partnership agenda.

The Conference of Local and Regional
Authorities (CORLEAP) set up in September 2011 has
laid the foundations for a regional dimension of the Partnership. Further
development of CORLEAP will help foster a better linkage between the national
authorities and citizens in the fulfilment of Eastern Partnership objectives.

The Eastern Partnership Business Forum
launched in Sopot in September 2011 will allow the business communities of the
EU and partner countries to develop the Forum further particularly now that
DCFTA negotiations have been concluded with one partner and are ongoing with
several others.

The Eastern Partnership also benefits from
the expertise of the Council of Europe which implements the EU- financed
Council of Europe Eastern Partnership Facility.

To support sound policy reforms and with a
view to contributing to the realisation of large infrastructure projects
linking Eastern European partners to the EU, boost development and address key
energy, environment and transport challenges, the EIB and other
regional and national development banks such as the EBRD are helping to secure
additional funding to underpin growth and jobs creation.

In the context of the Eastern Partnership,
an Information and Coordination Group brings together non-EU partners and
international financing institutions to exchange information on the Eastern
Partnership and to promote donor coordination.

7.           MONITORING THE ROADMAP IMPLEMENTATION

The Roadmap is intended to serve as a practical
tool for monitoring and assessing the progress of the Eastern Partnership. It
is a single set of documents, intended for EU Member States and Eastern
European countries alike, outlining the mutually agreed objectives, the
necessary policy steps to be taken by partner countries, the support extended
by the EU to achieve those steps and the expected outcome. The Roadmap thus sets
out measures to achieve concrete progress by autumn 2013.

The EU and partner countries will have the
opportunity to collectively assess the progress made in implementing the
objectives of the Eastern Partnership at annual meetings of the Eastern
Partnership Foreign Ministers. The informal Eastern Partnership Dialogues to be
held twice a year at Ministerial level will also provide the occasion to
exchange views on the Roadmap implementation and to address specific sectoral
aspects.

The Warsaw Summit Declaration has given civil
society a mandate to engage in support of democracy, sustainable socio-economic
development, good governance and the rule of law. Civil society is expected to
facilitate the transformation of partner countries by advocating reforms and by
fostering the Eastern Partnership’s values.

Civil society input is also crucial in terms
of monitoring of the implementation of the Partnership and the pace of reforms
in partner countries through its yearly assessment reports.

Therefore, the Civil Society Forum and its
National Platforms (cooperation with which will be further strengthened through
structured dialogue already launched by the EU Delegations) as well as the
EURONEST Parliamentary Assembly and CORLEAP are expected to play a greater role
in achieving the Partnership’s goals and monitoring the Roadmap implementation.

In order to support the monitoring of the
implementation of the Eastern Partnership objectives, efforts will be made to
enhance the visibility of Eastern Partnership activities.

8.           FOLLOW-UP

In drawing up the Roadmap, consideration was
given to proposals formulated by EU Member States, Eastern European countries
and civil society representatives in a series of consultations.

Building on this collaborative exercise, it
is expected that the Roadmap will become an effective and dynamic tool to
support the achievement of the objectives of the Eastern Partnership.

Following its adoption by the High
Representative and the European Commission in May 2012, the Eastern Partnership
Roadmap will be discussed at the annual Eastern Partnership Foreign Ministers
meeting scheduled to take place in summer 2012.

[1]               Joint Declaration of the Eastern Partnership Summit,
Warsaw, 29-30 September 2011

[2]               The Roadmap does not prejudice the individual
aspirations or European integration agendas of any Eastern European partner
country. The content has benefitted from consultations with the EU Member
States, and the Eastern European partner countries, as well as civil society
representatives.

[3]               Joint Declaration of the Prague Eastern Partnership
Summit, Prague, 7 May 2009

[4]               Joint Declaration of the Eastern Partnership Summit,
Warsaw, 29-30 September 2011

[5]               DCFTA negotiations presuppose membership of the World
Trade Organization (WTO).

[6]               COM (2006) 724, Communication
from the Commission on “The general approach to enable ENP partner countries to
participate in Community agencies and Community programmes”, Brussels, 4
December 2006

[7]               COM (2011) 564, Communication from the Commission on
"Cooperation in the Area of Justice and Home Affairs within the Eastern
Partnership, Brussels, 26 September 2011

[8]               Council conclusions on “Cooperation in the Area of Justice and Home Affairs within
the Eastern Partnership”, Brussels, 13-14 December 2011

[9]               COM(2011) 415, Communication from the Commission on “The EU and its neighbouring
regions: A renewed approach to transport cooperation”, Brussels, 7 July 2011