The Eastern Partnership summit closed with a joint declaration titled “Eastern Partnership – What Next”, Minister Pusić said after the summit.
“I think an important step forward has been made, despite the fact that Ukraine, which has been ready to sign the association and free trade agreements with the EU, has backed down at the last minute. However, it is still vital that association agreements have been initialled with Moldova and Georgia, which now have to be signed and ratified as soon as possible in order to come into force. They have political and economic consequences, given Russia’s pressure on those countries. It is important for Moldova and Georgia to have a sense of belonging and to be able to rely upon their European partners,” Pusić said.
She highlighted the interesting upswing in the EU-Azerbaijan relations, not just in the area of energy – evident in the Trans Adriatic Pipeline project, but in certain sensitive political issues as well, such as the negotiations with Iran. “It is perhaps a ‘side note’ of the summit that has not been specially emphasized or expected, but which could be detected if one looked carefully.”