IV 
113TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION 
H. RES. 402 
Supporting the European aspirations of the peoples of the European Union’s 
Eastern Partnership countries, and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
NOVEMBER 12, 2013 
Mr. ENGEL (for himself, Mr. ROYCE, Mr. KEATING, and Mr. POE of Texas) 
submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee 
on Foreign Affairs 
RESOLUTION 
Supporting the European aspirations of the peoples of the 
European Union’s Eastern Partnership countries, and 
for other purposes. 
Whereas a democratic, prosperous, and stable Eastern Eu-
rope and Caucasus region is in the national interest of 
the United States; 
Whereas the stability and economic vitality of this region also 
is important to our allies in NATO and the European 
Union (EU); 
Whereas Ukraine, Moldova, Georgia, Armenia, Azerbaijan, 
and Belarus have to varying extents sought to strengthen 
their economic and political ties with the EU through 
participation in the EU’s Eastern Partnership program; 
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•HRES 402 IH 
Whereas closer relations with the EU through the Eastern 
Partnership program will promote democratic values, 
good governance, and economic opportunity in the region; 
Whereas Ukraine may sign an EU Association Agreement, 
provided that it meets clear and essential EU conditions, 
and Moldova and Georgia may initial EU Association 
Agreements at the Eastern Partnership summit to be 
held in Vilnius, Lithuania, on November 28 and 29, 
2013; 
Whereas these EU Association Agreements contain free trade 
and other provisions that will create the conditions for 
greater economic growth and will strengthen democratic 
institutions and norms, bolster the rule of law, and re-
duce corruption in signatory states; 
Whereas the EU’s Eastern Partnership program and Associa-
tion Agreements are voluntary associations; 
Whereas all sovereign states have the right to enter into vol-
untary partnerships of their choosing, in keeping with 
their interests and values; 
Whereas majorities of the populations of Ukraine, Moldova, 
Georgia, and other states in the region desire closer rela-
tions with the EU; 
Whereas the EU Association Agreements do not pose a 
threat to any nation, and all states in the region, includ-
ing Russia, will benefit from the economic growth and in-
creased rule of law and stability resulting from closer re-
lations with the EU; 
Whereas Russia has sought to dissuade Ukraine, Moldova, 
Georgia, and Armenia from initialing or signing Associa-
tion Agreements with the EU; 
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•HRES 402 IH 
Whereas Russia has impeded some Ukrainian imports and 
banned the import of Moldovan wine; 
Whereas Russia has pressured Georgia, notably by erecting 
physical barriers along the Administrative Boundary 
Lines of the occupied Georgian regions of Abkhazia and 
South Ossetia, where Russian troops continue to be sta-
tioned despite a commitment in the 2008 ceasefire agree-
ment to withdraw to pre-conflict positions; 
Whereas these actions contravene Russia’s commitments 
under the Helsinki principles of the Organization for Se-
curity and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) and the Char-
ter of Paris, and also call into question Russia’s World 
Trade Organization (WTO) commitments; 
Whereas the European Parliament on September 12, 2013, 
passed a resolution expressing support for the Eastern 
Partnership countries; 
Whereas the United States has long supported the European 
aspirations of the peoples of Ukraine, Moldova, and Geor-
gia, as well as the other Eastern Partnership countries; 
and 
Whereas the United States believes that deepening ties with 
the EU will benefit these states, the wider region, and 
Russia, and will represent a step forward toward the real-
ization of the vision of a democratic Europe, whole, free, 
and at peace: Now, therefore, be it 
Resolved, That the House of Representatives— 
(1) supports the European aspirations of the 
peoples of the Eastern Partnership countries; 
(2) recognizes the significant benefits to these 
and other countries in the Eastern Europe and 
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•HRES 402 IH 
Caucasus region of closer economic and political ties 
with the EU, which will spur economic growth, 
strengthen democratic institutions and norms, and 
bolster the rule of law in the region; 
(3) supports the right of all sovereign states to 
enter into voluntary partnerships of their choosing, 
in keeping with their interests and values, and as 
enshrined in the OSCE’s Helsinki principles; 
(4) rejects the concept of spheres of influence 
which would divide the European continent; 
(5) calls on the Government of Russia to re-
spect the rights of states to make their own sov-
ereign choices with regard to international partner-
ships, including to sign Association Agreements with 
the EU; 
(6) applauds the significant progress Ukraine, 
Moldova, and Georgia have made in adopting demo-
cratic norms and standards, calls on these states to 
continue to implement necessary reforms, and urges 
Ukraine to address the remaining essential require-
ments for signing its Association Agreement with 
the EU: electoral and rule of law reforms and those 
related to selective justice, including the release of 
ex-Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko; 
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•HRES 402 IH 
(7) urges the Department of State to continue 
to work closely with our European partners and al-
lies to support the right of Ukraine, Moldova, and 
Georgia to enter into voluntary partnerships of their 
choosing, provided that any conditions are met; and 
(8) calls on the Department of State to con-
tinue to support reforms in all Eastern Partnership 
countries which will both help them meet the condi-
tions necessary for closer relations with the EU and 
which also make these states more democratic, pros-
perous, and secure. 
Æ 
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