The 5th Eastern Partnership (EaP) summit will take place in Brussels on Friday, 24 November, bringing together heads of state and government from EU member states and the six Eastern partner countries. Among the priority areas to be discussed are economic development and better market opportunities.
The leaders will look forward to future cooperation, as well as taking stock of what has been achieved since the last summit in Riga in 2015, focusing on the tangible benefits delivered to the citizens of the six Eastern Partnership countries.
The summit will discuss how to further strengthen cooperation in the four priority areas agreed in Riga:
- stronger economy: economic development and better market opportunities
- stronger governance: strengthening of institutions and good governance
- stronger connectivity: enhancing interconnections, notably in the areas of transport and energy
- stronger society: increasing mobility and contacts between people
The EU has identified 20 deliverables for 2020 in these four areas in a working document titled ‘Eastern Partnership - Focusing on key priorities and deliverables’. The report was first presented in December 2016 and revised in June 2017. Under the 20 deliverables for 2020, the EU commits to step up action on economic development and market opportunities by supporting partner countries in the following areas:
- creating diversified and vibrant economies, to create jobs in new sectors, attract investments and foster employability;
- macroeconomic stability;
- to drive the economic transition process forward with a view to create an attractive environment, a level playing-field for investments and business, as well as to improve the capacity of Partner Countries to take advantage of the trade opportunities with the EU and with each other.
The Eastern Partnership was launched in 2009 to promote political association and economic integration between the EU and the six Eastern European partner countries: Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, the Republic of Moldova and Ukraine. Under its EU4Business initiative, the EU channels support for the private sector in the Eastern Partner countries, working towards a better business climate while providing professional advice on business and improving access to finance for SMEs. The initiative aims to unlock the huge potential of SMEs in the region, thus boosting economic growth and creating jobs.