On May 7, 2009, an “Eastern Partnership Summit,” comprising the heads of State and representatives of all EU Member States and the six Eastern European non-member states adopted in Prague a Political Declaration for the launch of a new partnership agreement.

Over the last 15 years, successive EU enlargements have brought Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Moldova, and Ukraine closer to the EU. The security, stability, and prosperity of these six countries increasingly affect the prosperity and security of the EU. All these countries, which do not have identical objectives, to varying degrees are carrying out political, social and economic reforms for consolidation of their transition gains, and have stated their wish for closer cooperation with the EU. With the Eastern Partnership initiative, which is not an accession commitment, the EU puts forward concrete ideas for deepening its bilateral engagement with each of the six neighbors. 

For the six eastern EU neighbors the potential benefits imply new association agreements including freer trade, gradual integration in the EU economy, and more freedom of movement encouraging people-to-people contacts through gradual visa liberalization. By 2013, the partnership can offer additional ?350 million on top off the already allocated through the ENPI ?785 million for projects to reduce socio-economic imbalances and increase stability. For the EU, the expected benefits would come from the potential these countries offer for diversifying the EU’s energy supplies and strengthening energy security, tackling illegal immigration, promoting democracy, good governance, sector reforms, and environmental protection.

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