EU High Commissioner welcomes progress in signing association agreements with South Caucasian countries

Catherine Ashton, the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy has welcomed the issuance of the mandate to the European Commission to hold talks on concluding bilateral association agreements between the EU and the countries of South Caucasus, the EU's statement said.  

The Council of Foreign Ministers of 27 EU countries approved the negotiating framework, by giving the European Commission a mandate to hold talks to conclude bilateral association agreements between the EU and Azerbaijan, Armenia and Georgia.

"In this context, Association Agreements are an important instrument to upgrade our relations beyond existing commitments with a view of political association and gradual economic integration with the EU," she said.

She said the Eastern Partnership, launched at the Prague Summit May 7, 2009, provided an ambitious framework for taking the relationship with the countries of the South Caucasus to a new level.

"The negotiation process will be guided by the principles of inclusiveness and differentiation, as well as joint ownership," the High Representative said.

The association agreements, not envisaging an opportunity of membership to the EU, will replace existing bilateral agreements on partnership and cooperation.

"Successful implementation of the Eastern Partnership with the active engagement of the partner countries both in its multilateral and bilateral track will strengthen relations on the basis of shared values and will help advancing political and economic reforms, consolidate governance and foster regional stability, prosperity and confidence building," she said.


/Trend/