February can be described as a month of the active exchange between the Eastern Partnership countries and the European Union. It was precisely the negotiations with European leaders that turned to be the main point of the foreign policy agenda for almost all the countries in the region. However, each round of negotiations had its nuances and what is more, completely different results
Having gone through all lengthy bureaucratic procedures, Georgia finally received a positive decision on visa-free travel to European Union. Moreover, an approval of a suspension mechanism of visa-free regime for the third countries opened a way to a visa-free regime for Ukraine as well.
Economic issues were at the core of the discussions held during the Azerbaijani President’s visit to Brussels. Meanwhile, Armenia got a sterling opportunity — a second chance in relations with the EU — after finishing the negotiations on the new frame agreement. After the Armenia’s shift to the Eurasian Economic Union in 2013 such a result opens new perspectives not only for Armenia but for the united Europe as well.
As for the newly elected Moldovan President’s trip to Belgium, mainly his statements on the necessity to minimise the relations with the EU and expand the cooperation with the Eurasian Union got most attention.
At the same time, the region maintains a high level of tension. The end of February was marked with the new outbursts of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. Both Ukrainian foreign and domestic policy agendas were formed under the influence of the situation in Donbas and the Ukrainian-Russian relations. For Belarus the month turned to be rather turbulent due to the mass protests and a testing socio-economic background.
As for the most important events of the month in the countries of the Eastern Partnership, let us offer you a brief and substantive monthly reviews by the experts from all of the six countries.
Corruption and Georgia’s successful case in fighting one of the biggest problems in the region became the focus of the analytical article of the month. How did the Georgians manage with an issue all their neighbors have been long struggling for? What made Georgia a leader in the anti-corruption ratings? What Georgian experience could be of use for other countries? Lasha Tughushy, Liberal Academy Tbilisi, provides the answers.
Are you ready to share your expertise on any important socio-political issue of the Eastern Partnership region? We are open to publishing it as a “Guest Expertise” and strongly encourage you to send the texts to info@prismua.org.