I. Opening Session
I. Opening Session

Author(s): Jan Truszczyński, Erhard Busek, Kristian Vigenin
Subject(s): International relations/trade, EU-Approach / EU-Accession / EU-Development
Published by: Publishing Inc. European Readings & Prodifmultimedia/Editura Napoca Star
Summary/Abstract: We discuss the six countries in the Eastern Partnership as neighbourhood countries and we often forget that, in the long run, those countries will have the possibility, one day, to apply for membership in the European Union. This is the question we ask when discussing the neighbourhood policy in general — should we maybe not organise our work in a way that would offer more opportunities to the eastern neighbours, that would allow to pay more attention to the Eastern neighbours of the European Union without, of course, generally dividing the neighbourhood policy? This means that perhaps on a multilateral level, but also on a bilateral level in our relations, we can foresee new ideas in view of the changes in the neighbourhood policy, as well as the opening of more programmes to create more opportunities for those countries. We know well that some of them, like Ukraine, Moldova and also Georgia, are already willing to embark on the way to future membership in the European Union. We know how politically difficult this topic is and, in the European Parliament, we are very well aware that it is too early for such a debate. We know that, if we open it now, it will fail, since we already have difficulties to fulfil our commitments to the Western Balkan countries.

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