There are clear advantages to adopting the civil society perspective. This is a step towards greater "ownership" of citizens` associations and society within the Eastern Partnership and contributes to "social resilience". Moreover, this inclusive comparative perspective provides space and a voice for citizens of EaP countries whose governments are not currently interested in further European integration. The overall framework for relations between the EU and its six eastern partners is provided by relevant bilateral agreements, such as association agreements, association plans and partnership priorities and the results of EaP 20 for 2020, which are part of the four priority areas. The forum contributes to the implementation of flagship projects that control and facilitate democratic transition in the Eastern Partnership region and provides direct contributions and written advice and recommendations at the beginning of policy development, both in the Eastern Partnership and in the EU, conducts lobbying campaigns at critical times and oversees the implementation of commitments and agreements between the EU and partner countries in the framework. Eastern Partnership. Starting in 2014, the Forum supported two key initiatives, including the Eastern Partnership Media Freedom Index and the Eastern Partnership Integration Index. With regard to its lobbying activities to date, the forum has secured more funding for civil society from the Eastern Partnership and has contributed to the development of the EU roadmap for the Eastern Partnership Summit to be held in Vilnius in 2013. [36] In November 2009, Russian President Dmitry Medvedev dismissed the Eastern Partnership as unnecessary: "Frankly speaking, I don`t see any special use (in the program) and all the participants of this partnership are confirming this to me." However, a few days later, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said that Russia was not ruling out joining the EU`s Eastern Partnership programme.
[30] Russia has maintained its opposition to the EPP. For example, Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin told the EPP after the Warsaw summit in 2011 that Ukraine would probably not join the EU because of the economic crisis in the EU. Instead of joining the EU, Putin proposed a relationship between Russia and Ukraine that he said would allow for a more competitive and productive economic process. [31] EaP partner countries were among the first to benefit from mobility partnerships that help their citizens to move around in a safe environment in Europe. The Eastern Partnership (PEA) was created as a specific eastern dimension of the European Neighbourhood Policy, which includes both a bilateral and multilateral path. [6] The Eastern Partnership complements the northern dimension and the Union for the Mediterranean by creating an institutionalised forum for debate on visa agreements, free trade agreements and strategic partnership agreements with the EU`s eastern neighbours, while avoiding the controversial issue of EU membership. Its geographical coverage is composed of Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine. [7] Unlike the Union for the Mediterranean, the Eastern Partnership does not have its own secretariat, but is directly controlled by the European Commission.
[8] Ukraine is one of six post-Soviet nations invited to cooperate with the EU under the new multilateral framework that the Eastern Partnership must put in place. Kiev, however, said it remained pessimistic about the "added value" of the initiative.
