Evolution of the Eastern Partnership Regarding Associated Countries

Abstract

The entry into force of the Association Agreements concluded by the European Union with Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine has become a key moment in the Eastern Partnership evolution resulting in the widened gap between the partnership countries. The article emphasizes that these agreements created the legal basis for enhancing the EU law impact on the associated countries resulting in the Europeanisation of the legislation of the latter. It notes that due to implementation of these agreements the associated countries have already started large-scale internal reforms. The article shows that against the apparent success in the implementation by the EaP associated countries there emerge initiatives to implement a separate advanced format of EU cooperation with the associated countries – the Eastern Partnership Plus. The completion in 2020 of the implementation period of the Eastern Partnership's main working document 20 Priorities for 2020 together with the perspective of holding of the next sixth summit of all partnership countries give a chance to renew the partnership based on the more for more principle and to develop new mechanisms of work that can meet the associated countries’ intentions to deepen the EU integration. The article points out that the announcement by the European Union of broad strategic consultations on the updates of the Eastern Partnership is a positive element that should be used by the associated countries to convince the EU of the need for a new strategy that will complement the Eastern Partnership and make it more focused on the integration objectives of the three countries. It gives arguments that Association Agreements updating efforts may be an efficient way to make such aspirations come true, analyses the grounds and directions for such update. The article underlines that the associated countries need to use the time remaining to deciding on the further evolution of the EaP for the definite implementation of the current operation programme and demonstration of significant progress in the Association Agreements implementation.