Foreign Minister Urmas Reinsalu attended the meeting of the foreign ministers of the European Union and Eastern Partnership countries, which celebrated the 10th anniversary of the Eastern Partnership and discussed its future.
“Today we are celebrating the 10th anniversary of the Eastern Partnership. During these years, the Eastern Partnership countries have made significant progress towards the EU, but we must move forward, keeping the political ambitions of the programme high. We encourage the Eastern Partnership countries to continue on the course of reforms and we will continue to support them on this journey,” Foreign Minister Reinsalu said. He highlighted the programme’s principle that countries have the right to determine their future. “Estonia supports enhancing the Eastern Partnership with countries that wish to embark on a more ambitious course of integration, including political integration,” he said.
The EU foreign ministers agreed that there has been progress in meeting the objectives for 2020 set out at the 2017 Eastern Partnership summit, held during the Estonian Presidency of the Council of the European Union. “However, Eastern Partnership countries should make additional efforts when it comes including the civil society, the rule of law, and legal reforms,” Reinsalu said.
Reinsalu reaffirmed that the Eastern Partnership has been and continues to be a foreign policy priority for Estonia. “We will continue to support ensuring security, stability and prosperity in Europe’s neighbourhood, which is, above all, in the interests of the safety of the EU itself,” the Foreign Minister said.
The meeting is followed by the Foreign Affairs Council where the ministers’ agenda includes the situation in Libya and talks on the Sahel region. Reinsalu plans to raise the issue of Ukraine with his colleagues.
Eastern Partnership deliverables for 2020: https://www.consilium.europa.eu/media/31690/eap-generic-factsheet-digita… (PDF)
Additional information:
Sandra Kamilova
Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Estonia
Communication Department
+372 5667 5362
[email protected]