The Eastern Partnership summit in Riga (Latvia) was held on May 21-22 between the leaders of 28 EU countries and their counterparts from Ukraine, Georgia, Moldova, Azerbaijan, Armenia and Belarus. It showed the European choice made by Ukraine, Georgia, and Moldova, according to the Joint Declaration of the Eastern Partnership Summit (Riga, 21-22 May 2015)
#RigaSummit #EasternPartnership #Ukraine #UAinEU @Poroshenko @PavloKlimkin pic.twitter.com/XDwvLsban9
— MFA of Ukraine (@MFA_Ukraine) 22 Травень 2015
“Summit participants recommit themselves to strengthen democracy, rule of law, human rights and fundamental freedoms, as well as the principles and norms of international law, which are and have been at the heart of this Partnership since it was launched as a common endeavour of the Member States of the European Union and their Eastern European partners,” states the document.
“The acts against Ukraine and the events in Georgia since 2014 have shown that the fundamental principles of sovereignty and territorial integrity within internationally recognised borders cannot be taken for granted in the 21st century on the European continent. The EU remains committed in its support to the territorial integrity, independence and sovereignty of all its partners.”
“The Summit participants strongly support all efforts aimed at de-escalation and a political solution based on respect for Ukraine’s independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity. They call on all parties to swiftly and fully implement the Minsk Agreements of September 2014 and the package of measures for their implementation of February 2015, supported by the quadrilateral Declaration of Heads of State and Government, and endorsed by UNSC Resolution 2202 of 17 February 2015. They expect all parties to honour their commitments in this framework. They call for the urgent release of all hostages and unlawfully detained persons.”
“The Summit participants welcome the signature by Ukraine and the EU of the Memorandum of Understanding and Loan Agreement related to the Macro-Financial assistance programme of EUR 1.8 billion.”
“The EU reaffirms its positions taken in the Joint Statement made at the EU-Ukraine Summit on 27 April, including on the illegal annexation of Crimea and Sevastopol. The Summit participants reaffirm their positions in relation to ‘UN General Assembly Resolution 68/262 on the territorial integrity of Ukraine’.”
However, Belarus and Armenia objected Russia’s occupation of Crimea. Azerbaijan even refused to sign the declaration, but EU Council President Donald Tusk eventually persuaded to.
Ukraine was also welcomed for the signing of the Association Agreements with the EU.
“The Summit participants stress that implementation of AA/DCFTAs (Association Agreements/ the Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Areas) will be a top priority of the EU and the partners concerned for the coming years,” the document states.
