4 - Fakulta medzinárodných vzťahov - Ekonomická univerzita v ...
Share Embed Flag
Download ePaper

4 - Fakulta medzinárodných vzťahov - Ekonomická univerzita v ...

4 - Fakulta medzinárodných vzťahov - Ekonomická univerzita v ... 4 - Fakulta medzinárodných vzťahov - Ekonomická univerzita v ...

fmv.euba.sk
12.07.2015 Views

countries where the development of closer relations with the EU enjoys popular support as wellas for those states whose societies and individuals live under autocratic regimes withproblematic relations with the EU. Therefore, to establish democracy in the region a strong civilsociety is a basic precondition.In contrast to the Union for the Mediterranean (UfM), which has gone into free-fall,EaP has enjoyed a number of achievements in a short space of time. In 2009, the architects ofEaP managed to create new institutional settings and mechanisms which have enabled regularintergovernmental, parliamentary, civil-society and local/regional cooperation and dialogue. Inthis sense after three years the performance of EaP can be assessed as satisfactory.What is important, the Eastern Partnership is not affected by the kind of controversyand mayhem that damaged the UfM since its creation in 2008. It has an infrastructure, offersvalue for money and also enjoys a modest support of the ‘Friends of the EaP’ 7 . There is a solidground to state that the Eastern Partnership has managed to realize the following achievements 8 : Completion of negotiations on Association Agreement and DCFTA with Ukraine bythe end of 2011. Civil Society Forum (established for EaP in order to “influence EU institutions andnational governments by presenting the recommendations of the CSF during theirdecision-making process” 9 ) has been working actively within the past two years. Thisincludes regular meetings of its steering committee and working groups. Apart fromthat, the Forum plans 96 projects to be carried out under its auspices. Many of themare to be realized within the platform “Democracy, Good Governance and Stability”and are aimed to deal with problems of corruption, the media, visas and localdemocracy 10 . Association negotiations on new agreements with Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia andMoldova in 2010 have begun. Moldova and Ukraine commenced visa liberalization negotiations with member statesof the EU, relying upon the achievements of earlier phases of the dialogue devoted tovisa facilitation, readmission. Members of the European Parliament established Euronest Parliamentary Assembly inMay 2011. Moldova and Ukraine became members of the Energy Community in 2010 and 2011respectively. The new Comprehensive Institution Building program has been introduced in order tosupport partner states in their effort to conform their main domestic institutions,regulations and procedures with the provisions of new Association Agreements,DCFTAs and visa liberalization policies. The program is to spent €173 million until2013 and involves the principle of co-funding by partners. It is also open to financialinvolvement of other contributors. So far the program itself has been developing veryfast resulting in adoption of the Framework Documents and Memoranda of7 Ibidem, p. 8.8 Ibidem.9 The Role of the Eastern Partnership Civil Society Forum, (2011): www.eap-csf.eu/en/abouteap-csf/our-role.10 Eastern Partnership Civil Society Forum, (2011): Survey of Current and Planned ProjectsFocusing on Eastern Partnership Issues: Summary prepared by EaP CSF Steering Committee,20 May. See www.eap-csf.eu/en/resources/eap-csf-2011-documents.MEDZINÁRODNÉ VZŤAHY, 2012, 4 ○ 121

Understanding between the Commission and EaP countries (apart from Belarus). It isworth to mention that partner countries have been advised to define their priorities 11 .The EaP envisaged new financial resources to the partner countries. The Commissioncontributed €600 million, including €350 million to be added to existing financialprovisions. Also, with regard to the events in North Africa the European Commissionhas decided to increase the overall budget for the EU neighborhood in the financialframework 2014-2020 12 .The EaP is to support new instruments contributing to the economic development ofthe Eastern Partners. In cooperation with the European Commission, the EuropeanInvestment Bank and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development supportinfrastructure projects and development of small and medium enterprises in the EaPcountries. Significant loans provided to Eastern partners reveal how important role isplayed by European financial institutions in the implementation of EasternPartnership 13 . Similar role should be ascribed to the Neighborhood Investment Facility(NIF) which supports financial institutions of Eastern partner countries 14 .€75 million was planned for Pilot Regional Development Programs out of the total€600 million for EaP. The programs are to play a crucial role in the development ofsmall- and medium-sized enterprises, local infrastructure and human capital inundeveloped regions in the partner countries.In 2011 the Conference of the Regional and Local Authorities (CORLEAP) waslaunched within the Eastern Partnership program. During its inaugural meeting held inPoznań on 8 September CORLEAP produced a paper promoting a full involvement ofthe local and regional dimension into the EaP activities 15 .2 Warsaw Summit of Eastern PartnershipAn important event associated with the Polish priorities was the Eastern Partnershipsummit held in Warsaw on 29-30 September 2011 where the Heads of State or Government andrepresentatives of the Republic of Armenia, the Republic of Azerbaijan, Georgia, the Republicof Moldova and Ukraine, the representatives of the European Union and the Heads of State orGovernment and representatives of its Member States met to renew their commitment to theobjectives and continued implementation of the Eastern Partnership. Apart from that thePresident of the European Parliament and the representatives of the Committee of the Regions,the Economic and Social Committee, the European Investment Bank and the European Bankfor Reconstruction and Development were also present at the Summit. The direct result of theWarsaw summit was a Joint Declaration where plans of further development of the programwere put forward.11 High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy,(2011):Implementation of the European Neighbourhood Policy in 2010. Report: Eastern Partnership,Brussels, Joint Staff Working Paper 25.05., sec(2011) 641, seehttp://ec.europa.eu/world/enp/pdf/progress 2011/sec_11_641_en.pdf.12 European Commission, (2011): A Budget for Europe 2020, Brussels, 29.6.2011, COM(2011)500 final, http://ec.europa.eu/budget/library/biblio/documents/fin_fwk1420/MFF_COM-2011-500_Part_I_en.pdf.13 See: www.eib.org and www.ebrd.com.14 European Commission, (2011): Additional funding allocated to the NeighbourhoodInvestment Facility to support key investment projects, 5.8. See http://ec.europa.eu/europeaid/where/neighbourhood/documents/web_release_aap_nif__2011.pdf.15 Longhurst, K., Wojna, B., (2011): Asserting the EU's Mission…, op.cit. p.10.122 ○ MEDZINÁRODNÉ VZŤAHY, 2012, 4

Understanding between the Commission and EaP countries (apart from Belarus). It isworth to mention that partner countries have been advised to define their priorities 11 .The EaP envisaged new financial resources to the partner countries. The Commissioncontributed €600 million, including €350 million to be added to existing financialprovisions. Also, with regard to the events in North Africa the European Commissionhas decided to increase the overall budget for the EU neighborhood in the financialframework 2014-2020 12 .The EaP is to support new instruments contributing to the economic development ofthe Eastern Partners. In cooperation with the European Commission, the EuropeanInvestment Bank and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development supportinfrastructure projects and development of small and medium enterprises in the EaPcountries. Significant loans provided to Eastern partners reveal how important role isplayed by European financial institutions in the implementation of EasternPartnership 13 . Similar role should be ascribed to the Neighborhood Investment Facility(NIF) which supports financial institutions of Eastern partner countries 14 .€75 million was planned for Pilot Regional Development Programs out of the total€600 million for EaP. The programs are to play a crucial role in the development ofsmall- and medium-sized enterprises, local infrastructure and human capital inundeveloped regions in the partner countries.In 2011 the Conference of the Regional and Local Authorities (CORLEAP) waslaunched within the Eastern Partnership program. During its inaugural meeting held inPoznań on 8 September CORLEAP produced a paper promoting a full involvement ofthe local and regional dimension into the EaP activities 15 .2 Warsaw Summit of Eastern PartnershipAn important event associated with the Polish priorities was the Eastern Partnershipsummit held in Warsaw on 29-30 September 2011 where the Heads of State or Government andrepresentatives of the Republic of Armenia, the Republic of Azerbaijan, Georgia, the Republicof Moldova and Ukraine, the representatives of the European Union and the Heads of State orGovernment and representatives of its Member States met to renew their commitment to theobjectives and continued implementation of the Eastern Partnership. Apart from that thePresident of the European Parliament and the representatives of the Committee of the Regions,the Economic and Social Committee, the European Investment Bank and the European Bankfor Reconstruction and Development were also present at the Summit. The direct result of theWarsaw summit was a Joint Declaration where plans of further development of the programwere put forward.11 High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy,(2011):Implementation of the European Neighbourhood Policy in 2010. Report: Eastern Partnership,Brussels, Joint Staff Working Paper 25.05., sec(2011) 641, seehttp://ec.europa.eu/world/enp/pdf/progress 2011/sec_11_641_en.pdf.12 European Commission, (2011): A Budget for Europe 2020, Brussels, 29.6.2011, COM(2011)500 final, http://ec.europa.eu/budget/library/biblio/documents/fin_fwk1420/MFF_COM-2011-500_Part_I_en.pdf.13 See: www.eib.org and www.ebrd.com.14 European Commission, (2011): Additional funding allocated to the NeighbourhoodInvestment Facility to support key investment projects, 5.8. See http://ec.europa.eu/europeaid/where/neighbourhood/documents/web_release_aap_nif__2011.pdf.15 Longhurst, K., Wojna, B., (2011): Asserting the EU's Mission…, op.cit. p.10.122 ○ MEDZINÁRODNÉ VZŤAHY, 2012, 4

logo

products

Resources

Company

Terms of service
Privacy policy
Cookie policy
Cookie settings
Imprint
Change language
Made with love in Switzerland
© 2024 Yumpu.com all rights reserved

Hooray! Your file is uploaded and ready to be published.

Saved successfully!

Ooh no, something went wrong!