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THE ASSOCIATED TRIO IN ACTION

SPECIAL REPORT | JULY 2021 https://eurac.tv/9TEj

With the support of THE ASSOCIATED TRIO IN ACTION

SPECIAL REPORT | JULY 2021 For , who last April initiated the Associated https://eurac.tv/9TEj Trio format with and , the presence of Charles Michel at a summit of the three countries in on 19 July is perceived as a milestone.

Until now the Trio initiative was met with suspicion in Brussels, because it changes the format of relations with the six former Soviet in the EU neigh- bourhood – Ukraine, , Moldova, , Geor- gia and .

The six are packed together in the so-called , despite the fact that Ukraine, Moldova and Georgia have Association agreements with the EU and are much more ambitious in terms of integration and even future membership of the Union.

EURACTIV takes a closer look at the messages from Batumi. Contents

Charles Michel heralds more EU involvement in the South 4

Georgia, Ukraine and Moldova seek acceptance of their EU membership perspective 7 Georgia FM: We need a post-2020 Eastern Partnership 10 agenda perspective Associated Trio to ramp up cooperation on 12 security Newer EU members support Associated Trio as ‘champions’ 14 4 SPECIAL REPORT | THE ASSOCIATED TRIO IN ACTION | EURACTIV Charles Michel heralds more EU involvement in the South Caucasus

By Georgi Gotev | EURACTIV.com

Council President Charles and the Michel Salome Zourabishvili in Batumi on 19 July 2021. [Council Newsroom]

uropean Council President Azerbaijan and Armenia fought post-conflict settlement. The OSCE Charles Michel will attend a war last autumn over Nagorno- Group was created in 1992 Ea regional summit in the Karabakh which claimed some 6,500 by the Conference on Security and Georgian Black Sea city of Batumi lives and ended with a Russian- Cooperation in and is co- on Monday (19 July), after a weekend brokered ceasefire under which chaired by , and the visit of Armenia and Azerbaijan, in Yerevan ceded territories it had . what appears as an attempt to keep controlled for decades. But the Minsk Group has been the closer to the EU. EURACTIV largely inactive since the ceasefire. reports from Batumi. Tensions have been running high Azerbaijani President again since May — when Armenia had insisted that “the Karabakh After his personal efforts to help accused Azerbaijan’s military of conflict has been resolved for good” solve the internal political crisis in crossing its southern border — with and has rejected Yerevan’s calls to Georgia, described by some as risky, both countries reporting occasional negotiate on the region’s political Michel took another challenge by shootouts along their shared border. status. involving the EU in new mediation efforts between Armenia and Michel, who was in Armenia on HONEST BROKER Azerbaijan to settle the Nagorno- Saturday, called on the so-called Minsk Karabakh conflict. Group “to assume its responsibilities Previous EU positions have always and address different topics” of the been that no duplication was needed

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Continued from Page 4 that it was not a Brussels invention, and that the proper body to manage From Baku Michel flew to Batumi a diplomat said. In his words, the conflict was the OSCE. where he is expected to attend a initiatives to keep pro-EU attitudes meeting of the Presidents of Georgia, alive in the region appear once every Ukraine and Moldova later on Monday. five years, the latest one being the visa The meeting marks a rapprochement liberalisation scheme. But in the lack between the three countries, which of new initiatives from Brussels, the share a common desire to join the EU. region came up with its own plan, the diplomat said. The summit, hosted by the President of Georgia Salome However, the Trio initiative also Zourabishvili, coincides with has its internal problems. Probably the annual Batumi International the biggest is Ukraine’s agreement to Conference, a high point in Georgia’s host Mikheil Saakashvili, the former foreign affairs agenda. President of Georgia and leader of the country’s major opposition force, the According to diplomats, what United National Movement (UNM) of made the Trio summit possible was Georgia. the outstanding victory of the pro- Speaking alongside Azeri European forces in Moldova last Saakashvili left Georgia in President Ilham Aliyev, Michel said Sunday. 2013 a year after his party lost a that among the issues on which parliamentary election, and was the EU could provide expertise are charged and sentenced in 2017 in the exchange of prisoners and the For Georgia, who last April absentia, on charges of abuse of availability of mine maps, which initiated the Associated Trio format, public office and corruption. He were partly resolved, but also the the presence of Charles Michel at such now lives in Ukraine, which has no delimitation of borders, for which gathering would be a major blessing, extradition agreement with Georgia. he said “we are ready to provide diplomats told EURACTIV. There, Saakashvili is popular and is European expert assistance and, if still seen as a pro-Western reformer. necessary and desired, European Until now the Trio initiative monitoring”. was met with suspicion in Brussels, UNM keeps boycotting because it changes the format of international efforts at solving the relations with the six former Soviet internal Georgian crisis, spearheaded republics in the EU neighbourhood – by Charles Michel. Ukraine, Belarus, Moldova, Armenia, Georgia and Azerbaijan. Diplomats said that a lot of work had been needed to prepare the visit The six are packed together in the of Ukraine’s President Volodymyr so-called Eastern Partnership, despite Zelenskiy to Batumi, and that details the fact that Ukraine, Moldova and of the programme kept changing by Georgia have Association agreements the hour. with the EU and are much more ambitious in terms of integration As an example, instead of a and even future membership of the discussion between the Presidents Union. moderated by journalist Rikard Jozwiak, the Presidents will only NOT A BRUSSELS pronounce speeches. He added that there was also the INVENTION issue of the armed forces located close A high point of the meeting of the to the disputed areas, which in his Another reason why the EU was three Presidents and Charles Michel words should also be discussed. suspicious of the Trio initiative is is expected to take place in the Petra

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fortress, south of Batumi.

In the 6th century, under the Byzantine emperor Justinian I, the Petra fortress served as an important Eastern Roman outpost in the Caucasus and, due to its strategic location, became a battleground of the 541–562 Lazic War between Rome and Sasanian Persia, the ancient version of today’s Iran. SPECIAL REPORT | THE ASSOCIATED TRIO IN ACTION | EURACTIV 7 Georgia, Ukraine and Moldova seek acceptance of their EU membership perspective

By Georgi Gotev | EURACTIV.com

The signature of the Declaration of the Associated Trio at the fortress of Petra, on 19 July 2021. [Council Newsroom]

summit between Georgia, Launched in 2008, the Eastern But the Trio doesn’t want to be held Ukraine and Moldova in the Partnership governs the EU’s back by the other three members of AGeorgian Black Sea city of relationship with six post-Soviet states, the EaP, which they perceive as having Batumi culminated on Monday (19 including Georgia, Moldova, and different agendas: Armenia, Azerbaijan, July) with the signature of a declaration Ukraine. and Belarus. calling for the EU to acknowledge the perspective of these countries to become One of the highlights of the summit full EU members one day. EURACTIV was the speech given by European reports from Batumi. Council President Charles Michel, in which he saluted the Trio summit as “an The summit declaration, signed by important milestone”. the Presidents Salome Zourabishvili (Georgia), Volodymyr Zelenskiy “We welcome the Trio’s initiative (Ukraine) and (Moldova), to foster coordination between is a further step in the emancipation the associated partners and with of the three associated members of the Brussels. This can lead to the sharing Eastern Partnership (EaP). of best practices on reforms, on

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Continued from Page 7 implementation, and on broader Michel reminded that the EU He said that the Associated agenda for the future,” said Michel, to created the EaP 12 years ago, saying agreements with the three countries the delight of his hosts. the partnership is now a reality that had boosted trade for as much as 45% benefits all citizens of the countries in some cases, and that the Up to now, the EU was wary of concerned and of the EU. they create can deliver more, endorsing an initiative which did making them able to compete on the not come from Brussels. But the EU Regarding the upcoming EaP global market. now no longer avoids using the “Trio” summit in December in Brussels, he expression, despite ongoing tensions said the EU would remain a strong Michel described as “impressive” in Georgia and Ukraine where Michel and reliable partner for the region, the results of visa liberalisation acts as a mediator. but that it counts on the countries’ between Georgia, Ukraine and commitment to advance reforms – Moldova. He said that more than In his speech at the summit, “not to please Brussels, but in the half a million of their citizens have Michel, who appears to have interest of your own people and your benefitted from visa-free travel so far, developed a personal affinity for the own societies”. and that their young generation have region, saluted the fact that Georgia, benefitted from 80,000 exchanges Moldova and Ukraine are celebrating under the Erasmus+ programme. 30 years of independence from the former – in his words, The President “one generation of hard-won progress mentioned good governance as a and sometimes painful setbacks”. keyword to convey the message that the countries’ elites owe it to their nationals.

“Good governance is the key to unlock the benefits that liberal democracy can bring,” he stressed.

The summit was held in the afternoon, while during the entire morning Michel was mediating between the Georgian opposition and the Prime Minister , Michel reminded that when the following new setbacks in the process COVID-19 pandemic struck Europe, of defusing a deep internal political the EU reacted to the needs of the six crisis. EaP partners and together with the EIB, mobilised €2.5 billion to support them in tackling the health crisis and recover from the economic recession. “It has not been an easy journey with your countries facing Turning to other challenges – interference or aggression,” said economic growth, climate change, Michel referring to the conflict zones the digital transition and promoting created by Russia: in fair and inclusive societies – he said Moldova, and the EaP should be a launchpad for in Georgia, as well as the annexation greater cooperation in all these areas, of Crimea and the conflict in Donbas and serve as a catalyst for democracy, in Ukraine. good governance and the .

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Michel made suggestions on that would be democratic, stable and on the future of Europe, Zelenskiy how to foster closer cooperation secure,” she said. said, speaking through an interpreter. between the three associated partners, by introducing competitive Michel visited Armenia and The summit ended with a visit benchmarking on key reforms. In Azerbaijan before arriving in Georgia, of the four Presidents to the Petra his words, this would help galvanise promising more EU involvement in fortress, south of Batumi, built in reform momentum and increase finding a solution for the disputed the 6th century, under the Byzantine mutual support among partners and region of Nagorno-Karabakh. emperor Justinian I. help secure the countries’ ever closer ties with the EU. Some of Zourabishvili’s messages were directed to the domestic The host of the summit, Salome audience. “Any internal divisions Zourabishvili, said that despite the can only weaken our aims, the polarisation in her country, Georgia’s determination of our partners, and European future was one area of we should avoid it at all costs,” she undisputed consensus between warned. political parties. Moldova’s President Maia Sandu Despite the many challenges, impressed the audience with her including Russia’s occupation of modesty. She arrived with a small part of the country, Georgia’s EU delegation and spoke briefly at the aspiration has never faltered, she conference, without removing her stressed. She thanked Ukrainian mask. President Volodymyr Zelenskiy for having visited earlier the same day Ukraine’s Zelenskiy was the the administrative boundary line only leader who spoke in his native with Abkhazia, a vast Georgian region language. He focused on the Russian occupied by Russia following a brief aggression against his country and war in 2008. on his visit to the delimitation line in Abkhazia. Zourabishvili said the Batumi conference offered further proof “If Brussels and the EU do not that her country was supported and show iron support for the European encouraged. “This also means that aspirations of our three countries, we have to do much more and much then someone will show the iron faster,” she added. muscles of their weapons near our three state borders. And this, in my “The Batumi conference is a opinion, is a threat not only to our moment to take stock of the re- three countries, but also to the entire engagement of the EU in the region,” continent,” Zelenskiy said. Zourabishvili continued. “The personal involvement of President “Russia is a threat for all the Michel in Georgia’s internal continent and this is why we political processes, but also his most don’t understand why of recent visits to our two Caucasian our countries is not heard at the neighbours, also partners in EaP, and conference for the future of Europe,” the discussion of important projects the Ukrainian President continued. in the region, mark the importance If some countries are seen are less for the EU of a neigbouring region important, then it is not a conference 10 SPECIAL REPORT | THE ASSOCIATED TRIO IN ACTION | EURACTIV

INTERVIEW Georgia FM: We need a post-2020 Eastern Partnership agenda perspective

By Georgi Gotev | EURACTIV.com

David Zalkaliani in Batumi on 19 July 2021. [Georgi Gotev]

n an exclusive interview, the Ukrainian nationals accused of having Ukraine and Moldova, to the Batumi foreign minister of Georgia, David crossed illegally the Georgian border International Conference. IZalkaliani, discussed this week’s were released from a Georgian jail just And this was also agreed later Associated Trio summit in Batumi, before he arrived. on when I met with my colleagues, relations with Ukraine, the internal the foreign ministers of Ukraine and political process and the country’s EU There are a lot of speculations Moldova in , when we signed ambition. about this issue, but I can assure a memorandum of understanding you that this was not connected to on establishing the Associated trio. David Zalkaliani is a Georgian career this conference, because the idea of So, I can assure you that there is diplomat serving as the Minister of this conference was presented by no connection with regard of this Foreign Affairs of Georgia since 21 June the president of Georgia [Salome speculation, which we heard from the 2018. He spoke to EURACTIV’s Senior Zourabishvili], some time ago, during former president of Georgia [Mikheil Editor Georgi Gotev. Charles Michel’s last visit to Georgia Saakashvili], he somehow gave this where he was mediating the internal narrative that President Zelenskiy was Was it easy to bring the presidents process with the different political reluctant to come to Georgia, which for this Trio summit in Batumi? For parties in Georgia. And this was is absolutely false information and example, for bringing Mr Zelenskiy, it the idea of the president of Georgia has nothing to do with reality. We took a presidential pardon and three to invite the associated partners, are strategic partners and we decide

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Continued from Page 10 all the issues in a spirit of strategic Charles Michel mentioned the issue Supreme Court judges did not fully partnership, so there was no obstacle of good governance and in each of reflect the results of consultations or impediment. the Associated countries there are with international and domestic such issues. In Georgia in particular, stakeholders, calling it “a missed But Mr Saakashvili is an irritant in the political reconciliation is not opportunity”. the Georgia-Ukraine relations. Does yet achieved. How do you think the the Ukrainian side, which hosts him, situation will evolve? Of course there are some problems understand your concerns? with regard to this reform process, First of all let me express my because there are different readings, Yes, we have very frank and personal and my government’s and different perceptions from both open discussion with our Ukrainian deepest gratitude to President Michel sides. From our side we consider that colleagues. Way back during the for his personal engagement. It also the agreement is fully implemented, parliamentary elections of last year demonstrates how important is his even in the context of judicial reform, in Georgia, there was an issue of agenda, in the agenda of our European we think we already implemented foreign citizen Saakashvili, citizen of partners, the situation in Georgia. this agreement also taking into Ukraine, interfering into the Georgian That’s why the mediation process consideration the recommendations electoral process. So we made it clear which was finalized by the agreement coming from the , to our partners: this is not acceptable. of 19 April was really important, and OSCE and ODIHR. This is a violation of George’s internal now it’s time to fully implement it,in procedures and legislation. But since order to move forward and in order to There is a different reading on the then, the situation is back to the spirit solve all this artificial crisis which was other side, on the implementation of of our strategic partnership. created right after the parliamentary this particular part of this agreement, elections in Georgia. but we believe that there is still some Coming back to the issue of the Batumi room for further continuation of the conference and the Associated Trio, It’s now important that all parties dialogue in order to come to the final what would you like to highlight? which have signed this agreement agreement about the substance of implement it, but unfortunately this important aspect, which is the I would like to highlight the the biggest opposition party continuation of the reform process importance of the differentiation [Saaksashvili’s UNM], is still refusing in the judiciary sector, because we principle. We are three countries to sign this agreement, and we do understand that it’s important part of with Association agreements, DCFTA not have signature of the biggest our reform process for our democracy, [Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade opposition party to this important for strengthening our democratic Agreements], visa liberalisation. And agreement. So from our side, the institutions, it’s really important to it is obvious that compared to the government is fully implementing have this agreement implemented other Eastern Partnership countries this agreement because you because this is also important part of [Armenia, Azerbaijan and Belarus] remember the one of the important our agenda. we demonstrate significant progress aspects of this agreement was towards membership. That’s why all political parties to enter the It’s highly unusual for a Council one of the main objectives for us is to and continue the process president to mediate like Charles reflect the progress which the three of a fully functioning parliamentary Michel has been doing in Georgia. of us have made towards our goal, in Georgia. Unfortunately, How do you assess this experience? which is full integration to European the biggest party UMM is still Union, and also to figure out what is refusing to sign this agreement. But Very positively. Once again, the after-2020 agenda for the Eastern other areas of this agreement like the we’re deeply grateful to him for his Partnership, because it’s obvious reform of the electoral system, and personal devotion and engagement. that against the background of the the electoral court is very successfully It once again demonstrates how geopolitical changes in the region accomplished. important is the situation in Georgia we need a creative approach, how to for our European partners, and how revitalize the Eastern partnership, Charles Michel spoke of problems important is the irreversibility of our and how to adapt it to the current regarding the judiciary. He said the path towards the . realities. recent fast-track confirmation of 12 SPECIAL REPORT | THE ASSOCIATED TRIO IN ACTION | EURACTIV Associated Trio to ramp up cooperation on Black Sea security

By Alexandra Brzozowski | EURACTIV.com

A handout picture made available of Georgian Interior Ministry shows British destroyer HMS Defender arriving at the Batumi sea port in Georgia, 26 June 2021. [Handout photo/EPA/EFE]

he confrontation between three Associated Trio countries met in tensions between NATO and Russia, Russia and the West is coming Batumi on Monday (19 July). which In June had fired warning shots Tto a head, experts say. In and dropped bombs in the path of consequence, the Associated Trio Kuleba added that Russia has the British destroyer HMS Defender to – Ukraine, Georgia, and Moldova followed a similar strategic playbook chase it out of Black Sea waters off the – has declared its aims to step up in all three countries, which is why coast of Crimea. cooperation to strengthen security in they should aim to work together to Russia traditionally claims the Black Sea region. counter Moscow’s intentions in the political and military sovereignty in region. the Black Sea region and considers “If the Black Sea countries and the territorial waters of the annexed NATO members plus Ukraine, Georgia His comments came as 2,000 Crimea as its own, unlike the Western – and a place for Moldova can be found forces and 30 ships from 14 NATO countries. in that mechanism as well – do not members and partners took part in team up, Russia will turn the Black a -led maritime exercise, Moscow is also worried that large Sea into its inner lake, split it into two dubbed Sea Breeze 2021, exercised in parts of European Russia would be halves and start to dominate its zone the Black Sea on Monday. exposed to the danger of Western completely,” Ukraine’s foreign minister sea- and land-based medium-range Dmytro Kuleba said after leaders of the The exercise followed a rise in missiles if NATO were to increase their

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Continued from Page 12 presence in the region. positive development in this context. Marshall Fund of the United States (GMFUS) in Brussels, said he is “most Last month’s incident was the first “NATO has been fairly soft on concerned about the internal unity of time since the end of the Cold War what Russia is doing in the Black Europeans and NATO” in this regard. that Russia deliberately used armed Sea region, that’s the bad news. The force against a NATO asset. good news is, that you see these According to him, “EU institutions attitudes changing,” he said, adding in Brussels have finally understood “The Black Sea is of strategic that especially the US-led ‘freedom of that the Black Sea is an area of priority, importance to NATO. The Alliance navigation’ exercises and others have more and more than ever before”. remains strongly committed to proven that. Black Sea security,” NATO deputy “However, we still see – and we spokesperson, Piers Cazalet, said. Security experts worry that the have to be honest about that – that range of Russia’s S-400 air defence not all EU countries think alike when Since Russia’s illegal annexation of systems stationed in Crimea makes it comes to the importance of the Crimea in 2014, NATO has gradually not only the south of Ukraine but also Black Sea as a region where we need increased its presence in the Black the coast of vulnerable. to increase efforts and be presence,“ Sea. NATO ships regularly operate in Lété said. the Black Sea, patrolling the waters “As our current military for around two-thirds of the year. engagements are beginning to wind Eastern Europeans, especially in down, so we need to develop the the framework of the US-led Three However, according to the next series of enduring military Seas Initiative, have for long made Montreux Treaty, which, among other engagements between the United attempts the Black Sea doesn’t things, regulates the free movement States in Georgia, and between NATO become a ‘geopolitical black hole’. of ships through the waters, ships and Georgia (…) as well as what the One idea is to extend the initiative from non-bordering countries are next step in our military engagement to non-EU members like Georgia, allowed to stay in the Black Sea for a with Ukraine is to help it be more able Ukraine and Moldova. maximum of 21 days. to defend itself,” the former NATO general said. This, however, according to Lété NATO maritime manoeuvres does not mean there should be a thus have been intended to send a Breedlove said alliance members military solution. clear signal towards Moscow against like and Romania, which Russia’s claim to Crimea or its recently stepped up in bringing more “The strategy here should be more attempted supremacy in the Black Sea military capabilities to the region, about avoiding incidents and risk region. could lead the way into such a new management while doing deterrence, strategy. I think those are two pillars of how “We need to think seriously about security should be addressed in the what the NATO role is in the Black Sea, However, of Russia’s Black Sea Black Sea region,” Lété added. especially as we’ve seen the recent neighbours, only the Turkish provocative actions by Russia,” Philip can counter Russia. The Ukrainian Breedlove, former Supreme Allied navy lost most of its ships after the Europe (SACEUR) of annexation of Crimea, Georgia has NATO Allied Command Operations, limited its navy to the for told an audience in Batumi. financial reasons, and Romania and especially Bulgaria have so far little to Breedlove called the alliances’ offer as deterrent against Russia. aim to update its decade-old Strategic Concept, a master strategy document In turn, speaking about EU and which after the revamp will outline NATO approaches to the Black Sea NATO’s objectives and key security region, Bruno Lété, senior fellow of tasks with an eye toward 2030, a security and defence at the German 14 SPECIAL REPORT | THE ASSOCIATED TRIO IN ACTION | EURACTIV Newer EU members support Associated Trio as ‘champions’

By Vlagyiszlav Makszimov | EURACTIV.com

Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine have recently formally joined forces in a push for a deeper relationship with Brussels and eventual accession. [European Council/Copyright: European Union]

hough vast majority of EU term to reference Georgia, Moldova tailor-made approaches.” countries welcome deeper and Ukraine, which have recently Tintegration with Georgia, formally joined forces in a push for a “All of our neighbours are sovereign Moldova and Ukraine, their deeper relationship with Brussels and and independent. We respect their “Associated Trio” initiative finds more eventual accession. choices, foreign policy priorities and support within Eastern and Central strategic objectives. In this respect we Europe, while the Commission and “These three countries – welcome the initiative for enhanced Western member states remain sometimes referred to as ‘trio’ – are coordination between them and with hesitant to adopt the term. close neighbours of the European the EU,” the spokesperson added. Union and partners within the Eastern “We welcome the Trio’s initiative Partnership,” a GOOD WINDS IN THE EAST to foster coordination between spokesperson told EURACTIV, in what the associated partners and with appears to be the first time the EU However, signs are emerging that Brussels. This can lead to the sharing executive using the term. the Commission is under pressure of best practices on reforms, on from some member states, especially implementation, and on broader The Trio is packed together within Eastern and Central European agenda for the future,” said European the Eastern Partnership (EaP) with countries, who have long been the Council President Charles Michel Belarus, Armenia and Azerbaijan, who main proponents of closer EU ties with during his opening speech at the have no intentions of joining the bloc. its Eastern neighbours. Batumi International Conference on Monday (19 July). The spokesperson said the EaP “will Several diplomats from the region continue to be an inclusive and flexible supported the initiative when asked by This was the first time a high-level policy” for all EaP countries, “allowing EURACTIV, though emphasised that EU official used the self-ascribed “Trio” for substantial differentiation and it should remain within the current

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Continued from Page 14 parameters of the EU’s relationship reforms. the Eastern Partnership].” with its Eastern neighbours. “Implementing these bilateral While further differentiation “ welcomes Trio format agreements will make our partners was possible, it was “not through the which clearly states their common fit to launch the official integration creation of fixed groups that could goals and allows to coordinate the process once the EU is also ready to jeopardise the inclusion of other efforts,” Lithuanian Foreign Affairs enlarge,” he added. partner countries,” they added. Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis told EURACTIV in exclusive comments. Another EU diplomat from the The idea of creating a tripartite region was more cautious. They format for the three associated “We believe that within the said the Trio was a “step in the countries has been floating around Eastern Partnership policy principles right direction” but stressed that for a couple of years now. of differentiation and ‘more for the initiative must remain within more’ should be applied in a non- the Eastern Partnership platform, The materialisation of the Trio discriminatory manner and in this which should stay the “backbone” idea took some time because the context, Associated Trio should be of the bloc’s relationship with its “EU is slow to change its geopolitical treated as champions,” he added. neighbours. attitudes,” MEP Andrius Kubilius told EURACTIV. Asked about a of a long-term CAUTION IN THE WEST vision of joining the bloc, he said The former Lithuanian prime “the process of joining the EU is Western EU member states, on the minister, who has been one of complicated, but Trio proved their other hand, so far appear to stick to the biggest proponents of the willingness by implementing difficult the Commission line. Trio strategy within the European and costly reforms. We believe that Parliament, expressed hope that we have to reciprocate by granting One EU diplomat – avoiding now there is more understanding of them a membership perspective.” the term “Trio” – said their country the need to invest into the region’s supported “deeper cooperation integration and success, which can ’s top diplomat in Brussels, guided by a ‘more-for-more’ serve as an “inspiration for Belarusian Andrzej Sadoś, told this website his approach” with the three countries and Russian people, who are starting country welcomed the Trio initiative without mentioning that the new to demand a democratic change in as “a timely and well-voiced proposal format could also be used in their their countries.” for their deeper engagement with relationship with Brussels. the EU within the existing” Eastern BENCHMARKING neighbourhood policy framework. Along the same lines, while welcoming more cooperation One area where there seems At the EaP summit scheduled for “among the trio countries and a to be a cautious support between December, Warsaw expects that the deepening of the countries’ European EU countries is the creation of a EU “will demonstrate an ambitious integration through an incentive- monitoring mechanism aimed at approach towards the future of the based approach”, the Swedish foreign tracking progress on reforms. EaP policy offering the adequate mix ministry underlined “the importance of differentiation”, the permanent of the Eastern Partnership as one While in Batumi, Michel representative said. inclusive and unified policy towards suggested introducing a “competitive the EU’s eastern neighbourhood.” benchmarking on key reforms” within Asked if the EU should offer a the associated partners, which in his membership perspective to the Trio, Yet another diplomat said “the view would help “galvanise reform Sadoś said that the three associated opportunities offered by the respective momentum, increase mutual support countries’ expectations “should be Association Agreements between the among partners and help secure your taken into account,” stressing that EU and each of these countries must ever closer ties with the EU.” the rapprochement with Europe be fully exploited before creating any lies through the implementation of new instrument or format, be it on a None of the diplomats asked by existing commitments and continued bilateral or multilateral level [within EURACTIV opposed the idea, though

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Continued from Page 15 some said they would have to see the “If the Trio were to do it themselves details of any proposed system. the temptation for each country to push their own interest would be Acknowledging the differences irresistible,” he added. between the three associated countries, Lithuanian Foreign Affairs A Commission spokesperson said Minister Landsbergis said his country that “it is clearly legitimate to look believed that “competition leads to into the similarities between the improvement.” associated partners who have signed up to ambitious agreements with “We competed with and the EU as they strive to implement during our pre-accession, relevant reforms.” which lead to a considerable results,” he added. The spokesperson added that the Commission expects “associated “It is a good idea,” MEP Kubilius countries to lead by example” and said, adding that “it would be stands ready to discuss “whether any even better to have a competitive further competitive benchmarking benchmarking between the Trio – for instance when it comes to the countries and the Western Balkan implementation of commitments countries,” which are currently in the under the Association Agreements – waiting line to join the bloc. may be useful.”

“Of course the Commission should do this and has the means to do so,” said Michael Emerson, associated senior research fellow at the Brussels- based CEPS think tank.

According to the researcher, while the current reports of the Commission for both the and the Trio already contain the necessary information, they “need to be upgraded with a simple system of quantitative ratings based on the Commission’s knowledge of performance of the associated states on all ‘chapters’ of the acquis.”

However, he emphasised that the benchmarking should be done by the Commission, “since only they have the combination of knowledge and ‘disinterest’ in favouring this or that country.” THE DUTCH BID FOR EMA

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