Moldova, Georgia, Ukraine to have joint vision at Eastern Partnership Summit in Riga

Chisinau, 11 March /MOLDPRES/- Deputy Foreign and European Integration Minister Iulian Groza paid a working visit to Tbilisi, Georgia, on 10-11 March. He had a trilateral meeting with Georgian Deputy Foreign Minister Gigi Gigiadze and Ukrainian one Olena Zerkal. The officials discussed giving the final touches to a joint vision of the three countries on the Declaration of the Eastern Partnership Summit (EaP), due in Riga on 21-22 May, the Foreign and European Integration Ministry's communication and media relations service has reported.

The three states signatory to the Association Agreements with the EU are set to promote recognition of the European perspective, as well as the common interests springing from the status of countries associated with EU, as well as a more extensive support for implementing the Free Trade Area, increased access to funds meant for EU programmes and agencies, EU's more active involvement in solving conflicts in the EaP area, integration into the energy market and connection to EU transport nodes. 

At the same time, the sides agreed on ordering priorities based on the principle of differentiation and the one of more for more, so that the commitments assumed by the three states and their determination to implement difficult reforms should be reflected in the EU's strategic position on the Eastern Partnership.

The joint vision was presented at a news conference held by the three officials.

Also, Groza had meetings with Georgian Foreign Minister Tamar Beruchashvili, his counterpart Gigi Gigiadze and Deputy Interior Minister Levan Izoria.

The officials approached the importance of strengthening bilateral dialogue in diverse sectors of mutual interest, especially continuing exchange of experience in European integration, taking over experience to implement reforms in justice, domestic affairs and customs service, as well as starting the activity of the joint intergovernmental commission for economic cooperation.

The Riga Summit will be the fourth one of EaP. The EU-EaP joint declarations adopted at the summit represent political documents setting the general priorities of the partnership for the next two years.

(Editor A. Răileanu)