Eastern Partnership

The Initiative aims to facilitate reform processes in partner countries, including through association agreements, including the establishment of FTAs, as well as visa liberalization between the EU and partner countries.

The implementation of the EaP is based on the principles of differentiation, shared responsibility, and a “more for more” approach (the greater the partner country's progress in reforms, the more support it will receive from the EU).

The initiative covers both the EU's bilateral relations with partner countries and the multilateral format.

The bilateral format envisages negotiations between the partner country and the EU on the implementation of tasks in the areas of political association and economic integration with the EU (Association Agreement and FTA), population mobility (visa liberalization), sectoral cooperation (energy security, agricultural development). , environment, social policy, etc.).

The multilateral format is ancillary to bilateral and through its mechanisms (summits of heads of state, meetings of foreign ministers, meetings of experts) provides partner countries with the opportunity to exchange experiences on the implementation of domestic reforms. The multilateral format is also designed to promote stability and confidence-building in the region ("long-term conflicts").

The multi-dimensional dimension works at the following levels:

• summits with the participation of heads of state and government, meetings of foreign ministers, meetings of experts within the four thematic platforms of the East: democracy, good governance and stability;
• economic integration and convergence with EU policies;
• energy security;
• people-to-people contacts.

In addition, a number of practical projects (flagship initiatives) are being implemented in the following areas as part of the multilateral dimension of the East with the support of the European Commission:

• integrated border management,
• promoting small and medium-sized businesses,
• increase energy efficiency,
• Environmental management and prevention of natural and man-made disasters.

As part of the multilateral dimension of the East, meetings are also held in the format of Informal Dialogue at the level of Foreign Ministers and Sector Ministers of Partner Countries and European Commissioners. Informal meetings discuss issues of multilateral sectoral cooperation and the overall development of the East.

The parliamentary dimension of the East is provided by the Euronest Parliamentary Assembly (EURONEST PA).

A feature of the EaP is the broad involvement of the non-governmental sector in the Civil Society Forum (CSF). The purpose of the Forum is to develop contacts between non-governmental organizations and promote their dialogue with public authorities. The CSF operates on the principle of four thematic platforms operating within the East. Under the auspices of the CSF, national platforms of the Forum have been formed in each of the partner countries. The Ukrainian National CSF Platform brings together more than 150 non-governmental organizations.

Eastern Partnership Multilateral Platforms

The Eastern Partnership Multilateral Platforms (EaPs) are designed as forums to discuss issues of common interest to partner countries. Multilateral cooperation within the East includes EU institutions, interested member states and 6 partner countries - Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, the Republic of Moldova and Ukraine. Such cooperation is based on four working platforms, supported by various expert panels, flagship initiatives and projects. Meetings within the four thematic platforms of the East take place at the expert level twice a year.

PLATFORM 1. Democracy, good governance and stability

Aims to improve key sectors of government in areas such as public administration, civil service, the judiciary, public border management, anti-corruption, elections, asylum and migration, the Common Security and Defense Policy, civil protection, police cooperation and fight against cybercrime. This platform aims to encourage internal reforms through the use of relevant experience of multilateral cooperation participants, or through specific and targeted pilot projects. The responsible state body within the Platform №1 is the Ministry of Justice of Ukraine.

Within the framework of Platform №1 there are such panels as the Working Panel on Cooperation in the Field of SPBO (responsible body - the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine), the Working Panel on Asylum and Migration (responsible body - the State Migration Service of Ukraine), panel "Civil Service Reform" (responsible body - the National Agency of Ukraine for Civil Service), as well as two flagship initiatives - "Integrated Border Management" (responsible body - the State Border Service Administration of Ukraine), and "Prevention, preparation and prevention of natural and man-made disasters "(responsible body - the State Emergency Service of Ukraine).

PLATFORM №2 Economic integration and convergence with EU policies

The Eastern Partnership contributes to the smart, sustainable and inclusive development of a free market economy in partner countries. This platform is particularly important for Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine, which have signed association agreements, including a deep and comprehensive free trade area. In turn, for Azerbaijan, Belarus and Armenia, it is a forum for discussing economic and sectoral cooperation with the EU. The №2 platform covers areas such as trade; business environment; modern, social and ecological economy that promotes growth and employment. The Ministry of Economic Development and Trade of Ukraine is the responsible state body within the framework of Platform II.

Within the framework of Platform №2 there are such panels as the Panel on Trade (responsible body - the Ministry of Economic Development and Trade of Ukraine), Transport Panel (responsible body - the Ministry of Infrastructure of Ukraine), Panel on Environmental Protection and Climate Control changes (responsible body - the Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources of Ukraine), the Panel on Statistics (responsible body - the State Statistics Service of Ukraine), as well as the flagship initiative "Instrument for Small and Medium Business" (responsible body - the Ministry of Economic Development and Trade of Ukraine) .

A new strategic flagship initiative is the EU-Eastern European Harmonization of the EU and Neighboring Neighbors initiative, aimed at converging EU-Eastern digital markets (including the sharing of infrastructure for electronic telecommunications networks, e-signature and e-government) through multilateral projects to be implemented by participating countries. This initiative was proposed to the EU by the Belarusian government as such, to be funded by the East Program Fund. It was supported by the European side. This flagship initiative was officially launched at the Riga Eastern Partnership Summit (May 21-22).

PLATFORM №3 Energy Security

Aimed at cooperation in the field of energy security, diversification of electricity, gas and oil interconnectors, as well as energy efficiency and renewable energy sources. The Ministry of Energy and Coal Industry of Ukraine is the responsible state body within the framework of Platform №3. This platform includes two flagship initiatives - "Development of regional electricity markets, energy efficiency and renewable energy use" (responsible body - the Ministry of Energy and Coal Industry of Ukraine) and "Environmental Management" (responsible body - the Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources of Ukraine). 

PLATFORM №4 Interpersonal Contacts

The work of this platform is focused on students, teachers, scientists, youth, artists and cultural figures. The key objectives are to strengthen the participation of partner countries in EU international cooperation programs, strengthen the capacity for reform, enhance cooperation and exchange of good practice between the EU and partner countries' education and training bodies, their higher education and research institutions, youth and cultural organizations. The Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine is the responsible state body within the framework of Platform №4.

The work of the №4 Platform complements bilateral agreements and cooperation (eg association agreements and related agendas), as well as a number of EU programs on international cooperation in education and youth (Erasmus +), culture and media. ("Creative Europe"), research and innovation ("Horizon 2020" and "Marie Sklodowska-Curie"). One of the goals is information campaigns to raise awareness of cooperation programs and opportunities offered to partner countries.