By Sarah Collins - 2nd September 2008
We will have to see how far we can go
EU external relations chief Benita Ferrero-Waldner on moves to strengthen relations with the EU's eastern neighbours
External relations chief Benita Ferrero-Waldner has said the EU is ready to move on plans to bolster relations with its eastern neighbours before the end of the year.
The move, which would affect countries such as Georgia, Ukraine and Moldova, was announced after the commissioner met with Georgian prime minister Vladimer Gurgenidze on Tuesday.
“We will have to see how far we can go,” she told journalists in Brussels. “There should be greater economic integration, more mobility and more tools to help solve the security situation and resolve frozen conflicts.”
The “eastern partnership” proposal, which was originally put forward by Poland and Sweden, was agreed at a summit of EU leaders back in June, and aims to expand relations within the framework of the EU’s neighbourhood policy.
The main idea behind the project is to encourage regional cooperation between the countries on the EU’s eastern borders and to open bilateral talks with each country on issues such as visa facilitation and free trade.
The EU has already said that it will accelerate visa and free trade talks with Georgia.
Ferrero-Waldner added that the EU would be ready to make decisions on the eastern partnership in late autumn, or by the December European council.
Her statement comes after the conclusions of an emergency meeting of EU leaders on Monday, who announced a suspension of talks on a new agreement with Russia until it withdraws its troops to positions they occupied before 7 August.
EU leaders will also be looking to the outcome of an EU-Ukraine summit next week, where Kyiv will be expecting some assurances on membership of the 27-country bloc.
Ukraine has taken a consistent position against the neighbourhood policy, saying that it falls far short of its aims to stabilise and support participating countries.
Kyiv is looking to launch a visa-free dialogue with the EU and to have its aspirations for membership of the bloc formally recognised in a new and enhanced bilateral agreement.
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