The presidents of Georgia, Moldova, and Ukraine met the President of the European Council, Charles Michel, at the annual Batumi Conference hosted by Georgia on Monday, where the three former Soviet Republics signed a declaration on the accession to the European Union (EU), hailed the successful implementation of the Eastern Partnership programme, and reaffirmed their commitment to a European future.
At a press conference, Georgian President Salome Zurabisvili said, “Once the declaration is signed, we, the three countries, will no longer be the same. We’re getting closer. The Black Sea will no longer be the same. It will be a symbol of union, unification, closeness for the three countries. To this end, we are obliged to work with the European Union on the principle of the high seas.” Additionally, the President reflected on their common past and expressed his determination to fight for a European future.
Likewise, the Ukrainian President, Volodymyr Zelensky, said, “We have shared aspirations, a common vision of our future–our full membership in the EU, equality, freedom and democracy.” He also expressed confidence in the ability of these nations in reaching their goals and becoming a part of the Union. The Moldovan President, Maia Sandu, while referring to the agreements signed by the members of the Eastern Partnership programme, said, “The Eastern Partnership is a major success for our countries. With our Georgia and Ukrainian friends today we shared our views on the next steps that our countries could take to strengthen the Eastern Partnership even more…as countries that want to build Europe at home, but also become part of the European family.”
In 2014, the leaders of the three nations entered into an association agreement with the EU that extended visa-free entry to the Schengen area for their citizens along with promises of “political transformation, trade liberalisation and a liberal reform of their justice system to conform to European democratic standards.”
Meanwhile, European Council President Charles Michel referred to the meeting as an important milestone in strengthening the relationship between the Union and its Associated Partners. The three Eastern European nations have been seeking close ties with the EU for the past few years and regrouped themselves to establish “Associated Trio/Tripartite Partnership” in Kyiv to strengthen cooperation in their bid to gain EU membership in May. However, the other three members of the EU’s Eastern Partnership, Belarus, Armenia and Azerbaijan, have not yet expressed their desire to join the EU. Moreover, Belarus pulled out of the Eastern Partnership over a series of sanctions imposed by the Union over electoral fraud and human rights abuses.
The step towards European integration is also an attempt by these countries to distance themselves from Russia’s influence. Russia has long opposed former Soviet republic becoming closer to the West and has frequently instigated or propelled conflict in these countries to foil their bid to gain EU membership.
During the Conference, Michel assured the leaders of continued support from the EU for the implementation of necessary reforms and indicated a willingness to hold the next Eastern Partnership Summit in December in Brussels. He said, “We count on your commitment to advance reforms, not to please Brussels, but in the interests of your people and your societies.”