The Eastern Partnership, a joint undertaking of the EU
and its Eastern European partners Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, the
Republic of Moldova and Ukraine, has advanced in concrete terms across a range
of bilateral and multilateral cooperation areas since the 2013 summit in
Vilnius.
The signing, provisional application and first steps
in implementation of the most ambitious ever bilateral Association Agreements
including a Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area (AA/DCFTAs) with Georgia,
the Republic of Moldova and Ukraine have brought the EU’s relations with these
countries to new levels.
The focus is now on the implementation of these
agreements, through reforms, to unlock a broad range of concrete benefits. A
majority of the EU Member States have already ratified the AA/DCFTAs.
Provisional application of DCFTAs has shown an
increase in trade, which is an important engine for growth: The overall trade
figures for 2014 are very positive for imports from Moldova, which increased by
20% on the year-on-year basis, while Moldova’s total trade volume increased by
8% on a year-on year basis.
● Georgian exports to the EU rose by 12% in the first
six months of the DCFTA. EU exports to Georgia have remained stable and there
has been no sudden increase.
● Trade with Moldova is increasing significantly,
thanks to Moldovan exports. A sharp rise in trade began already in 2014, prior
to the signature of the Association Agreement. EU imports from Moldova rose by
20% overall and imports of agricultural products by over 30%. EU exports to
Moldova remain stable and there has been no sudden increase.
● Trade facilitation actions continued with the signature
of the Strategic Framework for EU-Georgia Customs Cooperation in March 2015 and
the ratification under way in Moldova of the Pan-Euro-Mediterranean regional
convention on rules of origin. This will make trade in goods easier and will
simplify customs procedures.
● To support the implementation of DCFTAs a special
DCFTA Facility for Small and Medium-sized Enterprises was created to unlock new
investments in Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine. Against the background of the
conflict in eastern Ukraine and its difficult economic situation, the EU has
stepped-up its engagement with Ukraine providing consistent political,
financial and economic support in a short space of time.
● In March 2014 the EU adopted a comprehensive
financial package of EUR 11 billion to help the reform process in Ukraine.
Since then, the EU and European Financial Institutions have delivered EUR 6
billion, including the additional Macro-Financial Assistance package of 1.8
billion in 2015.
● In April 2014 the EU granted Autonomous Trade Measures
to Ukraine.
● The EU has also provided substantial humanitarian
assistance to Ukraine amounting, together with its Members States, to EUR 100
million.
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