The European Union and six partner countries – Ukraine, Georgia, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus and the Republic of Moldova – celebrate the 10th anniversary of the Eastern Partnership.
On this occasion, a series of events will take place in Brussels on May 13 and May 14.
On May 13, High Representative, Federica Mogherini, will chair the annual Eastern Partnership Foreign Affairs Ministerial Meeting with the 28 EU member states, the EU’s six Eastern partners and key stakeholders, and the Commissioner for European Neighbourhood Policy and Enlargement Negotiations, Johannes Hahn. The Ukrainian side will be represented by Foreign Minister Pavlo Klimkin.
The ministers are expected to sum up the progress achieved in the framework of the previously approved “20 Deliverables for 2020 work plan.” This common agenda was adopted at the last Eastern Partnership Summit of November 2017 and aims to bring tangible benefits to the lives of citizens across the region through working towards stronger economies, stronger governance, stronger connectivity and stronger societies,” the communiqué distributed by the European Commission says.
In the evening of May 13, President Tusk will host a celebratory dinner for the six heads of state or government of the EaP partner countries. President Juncker, High Representative Mogherini and Commissioner Hahn, as well as Radosław Sikorski and Carl Bildt, former Foreign Ministers of Poland and Sweden respectively and initiators of the Eastern Partnership framework back in 2008, will also attend. Ukraine will be represented by President Petro Poroshenko.
In parallel, the “Creating Together” concert will take place at the Brussels Centre for Fine Arts, BOZAR. The concert will bring together on one stage the well-known Brussels Jazz Orchestra and musicians from the six Eastern partner countries.
On May 14, President Juncker will host a High-level Conference in the European Commission’s Charlemagne building. This conference will bring together Heads of State or Government of the partner countries, Foreign Ministers of the European Union member states, civil society representatives, business leaders, young people and journalists from across the 34 countries High Representative Federica Mogherini, Commissioner Hahn and the Commissioner for Trade, Cecilia Malmström, will also participate.
The event will be an opportunity to discuss the developments of the partnership during this first decade and exchange on its future among a wide audience of key stakeholders active in the region or directly involved in this policy framework.
