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