Eastern Partnership: a policy that delivers (Brussels, 25 may, 2015)

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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