Resolution by the Euronest Parliamentary Assembly on the future of the Eastern Partnership — combating hybrid challenges and security threats together
Date: 2017-11-01
Institutions: Euronest Parliamentary Assembly
Subjects: Eastern Partnership, Georgia, Moldova, Russia, Russo-Ukrainian issue, Ukraine, association agreement (EU), geopolitics, human rights, territorial dispute








C_2018099EN.01000501.xml










15.3.2018   


EN


Official Journal of the European Union


C 99/5





RESOLUTION
by the Euronest Parliamentary Assembly on the future of the Eastern Partnership — combating hybrid challenges and security threats together
(2018/C 99/03)
THE EURONEST PARLIAMENTARY ASSEMBLY,






—


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










—


having regard to the recommendations by, and activities of, the Euronest Parliamentary Assembly, the Eastern Partnership Civil Society Forum, and the Committee of the Regions and the Conference of Regional and Local Authorities for the Eastern Partnership (CORLEAP),










—


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










—


having regard to its resolutions, and in particular those of 21 January 2016 on Association Agreements/Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Areas with Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine and of 9 July 2015 on the review of the European Neighbourhood Policy,










—


having regard to the Joint Statement of the Parliaments of Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine and the Joint Communiqué of the Chairpersons of the Committees on European Integration of the parliaments of Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine,










A.


whereas the tense geopolitical environment is creating new sophisticated challenges, ranging from economic issues to security threats, for EU Member States and Eastern partner countries;










B.


whereas European values, namely the primacy of democracy and respect for human rights, must be defended for the peace and prosperity of the whole continent; whereas partner countries have committed to deepening their relations and adhering to international law and upholding fundamental common values in order to increase political dialogue;










C.


whereas the Eastern Partnership is a strategic dimension of the ENP and a key element for the stability and sustainable development of the continent;










D.


whereas various levels of bilateral relations exist between the EU and its partner countries and the incorporation of European standards into their domestic laws is uneven;










E.


whereas with the full entry into force of the Association Agreements (AAs), including a Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area with Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine, there has been noticeable progress in relations with the EU and the European choice of the partners concerned;










F.


whereas the independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity of some of the EU's Eastern partners are under threat from unresolved regional conflicts which are being actively prolonged by the Russian Federation; whereas these conflicts could be resolved through diplomacy and honest engagement;










G.


whereas Russia's aggressive and expansionist policy towards the partner countries concerned has resulted in the illegal annexation of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea and the city of Sevastopol, as well as the illegal occupation of Abkhazia, Tskhinvali Region/South Ossetia and some regions of the Donetsk and Luhansk oblasts, in breach of international law and bilateral agreements as well as Russia's commitments and obligations with regard to its membership of international organisations;










H.


whereas Russian aggression against Ukraine and its illegal annexation of Crimea has serious implications for security in Europe overall; whereas hundreds of Ukrainian citizens in the temporarily occupied territories have been illegally detained, arrested, sentenced and imprisoned by the Russian authorities and their proxies and that number has been increasing; whereas Ukraine has almost 1,8 million internally displaced persons and 5 million people affected by the conflict;










1.


Calls for a unanimous and strategic response to the consequences of the challenging geopolitical situation provoked by Russia and for effective mechanisms to restore peace in areas of protracted conflicts to be proposed;










2.


Reiterates strong support for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine, Georgia and Moldova within their internationally recognised borders;










3.


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










4.


Underlines the need for urgent advocacy, legal and financial support to Ukraine, Georgia and Moldova in resolving the situation with regard to internally displaced persons; calls for the immediate release of Ukrainian political prisoners in the Russian Federation; encourages the exchange of prisoners;










5.


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










6.


Welcomes the entry into force of the Association Agreements, including a Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area with Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine and the new Comprehensive and Enhanced Partnership Agreement between the EU and Armenia, as well as the ongoing negotiations between the EU and Azerbaijan on a new framework agreement; appreciates the fact that the EU's critical engagement with Belarus has become more comprehensive, including within the EU-Belarus Coordination Group, the Human Rights Dialogue and the Dialogue on Trade;










7.


Calls for close political association and economic integration, including participation in EU programmes as well as recognising that AAs with Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine are not the final goal in their relations with the EU; calls for their European aspirations to be acknowledged;










8.


Calls for agreement on new strategic long-term goals at the EaP Summit in Brussels on 24 November 2017 with a view to formulating the comprehensive agenda of cooperation for the next biannual period and beyond;










9.


Reiterates its principal position regarding the need for the draft Brussels Declaration to reflect the European aspirations and the European choice of the partner countries concerned, as stated in the AAs;










10.


Stresses in particular that other strategically important elements should be included in the draft Brussels Declaration, such as:






—


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










—


bolstering energy security,










—


harmonisation of digital markets,










—


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










—


further promoting the security sector reforms, implementation of integrated border management, disrupting organised crime, tackling hybrid threats, countering terrorism and preventing radicalisation, enhancing cybersecurity, and strengthening disaster prevention,










—


enhancing, where appropriate, security dialogue and cooperation in the area of the common security and defence policy.