Angela Merkel: Moldova and Georgia will initial Association Agreements in Vilnius
German Chancellor Angela Merkel said during a Parliamentary session on Monday that the Republic of Moldova and Georgia will initial their Association Agreements at the Eastern Partnership Summit in Vilnius at the end of the month.
Ms. Merkel added that it is still unclear whether Ukraine will sign such an accord.
“It is not yet clear whether Ukraine has the will to accomplish the requirements for the signature,” said Angela Merkel, referring to the release of imprisoned opposition leader Yulia Tymoshenko.
Despite of the excitement of some Eastern Partnership countries to initial or sign the Association Agreement, the German Chancellor made it clear that this Partnership “is not an instrument of EU enlargement.”
“A partnership binds both sides,” Angela Merkel said.
According to her, the Eastern Partnership is a mechanism “to support democratization of our partners, by offering them political and economic cooperation.”
The German politician stressed that the Ukraine’s political association with the European Union is not aimed against Russia, maintaining that Russia could also benefit from such an agreement.
Ms. Merkel’s party fellow, Volker Kauder, who is CDU/CSU’s head, said that the Eastern Partnership is of central importance.
“This Europe is not only an organization of Euro and Cent, but also a community of values,” Volker Kauder said.
The German left-wing party, Die Linke, is in favor of a visa liberalization program with the Eastern Partnership countries. They called on the political forces for more negotiation and integration of these countries and not for “hard-hitting political interests.”
The Green Party contradicted the other parties, saying that in the case of the Eastern Partnership countries it is also a matter of EU membership on a longer term. Moreover, they emphasized that the reforms are driven by visa lifting programs.
“The liberalization of the visa policy is the key to reforms,” Anton Hofreiter of the Green Party said.
Ms. Merkel added that it is still unclear whether Ukraine will sign such an accord.
“It is not yet clear whether Ukraine has the will to accomplish the requirements for the signature,” said Angela Merkel, referring to the release of imprisoned opposition leader Yulia Tymoshenko.
Despite of the excitement of some Eastern Partnership countries to initial or sign the Association Agreement, the German Chancellor made it clear that this Partnership “is not an instrument of EU enlargement.”
“A partnership binds both sides,” Angela Merkel said.
According to her, the Eastern Partnership is a mechanism “to support democratization of our partners, by offering them political and economic cooperation.”
The German politician stressed that the Ukraine’s political association with the European Union is not aimed against Russia, maintaining that Russia could also benefit from such an agreement.
Ms. Merkel’s party fellow, Volker Kauder, who is CDU/CSU’s head, said that the Eastern Partnership is of central importance.
“This Europe is not only an organization of Euro and Cent, but also a community of values,” Volker Kauder said.
The German left-wing party, Die Linke, is in favor of a visa liberalization program with the Eastern Partnership countries. They called on the political forces for more negotiation and integration of these countries and not for “hard-hitting political interests.”
The Green Party contradicted the other parties, saying that in the case of the Eastern Partnership countries it is also a matter of EU membership on a longer term. Moreover, they emphasized that the reforms are driven by visa lifting programs.
“The liberalization of the visa policy is the key to reforms,” Anton Hofreiter of the Green Party said.