7th Annual Eastern Partnership Foreign Ministers' meeting

The 7^th annual Eastern Partnership Foreign Ministers' meeting is taking place today in Brussels. High Representative/Vice-President, Federica Mogherini chairs the meeting, which brings together Foreign Ministers from Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, the Republic of Moldova and Ukraine, as well as from the EU Member States. The Commissioner for European Neighbourhood Policy and Enlargement Negotiations, Johannes Hahn will also be present.

Exactly one year since the Eastern Partnership Summit in Riga, the Foreign Ministers' meeting provides an opportunity to take stock of reform progress and to reaffirm the EU's commitment to the region's security, stability and prosperity.

Reform remains at the heart of the Eastern Partnership and the EU is committed to match each Partner's own ambitions on their reform path. For Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine , this is set out in comprehensive Association Agreements. New agreements are foreseen with Armenia and Azerbaijan, while relations with Belarus are evolving.

At this midway point between Eastern Partnership Summits, activity ahead of next year's Summit will be set-out. This includes stepping up cooperation in areas that will deliver tangible benefits for citizens, including in education, training and research, and in youth employability, innovation and entrepreneurship through the Erasmus+, Creative Europe and Horizon 2020 programmes.

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