The Eastern Partnership is an initiative of the European Union governing its relations with its neighboring states. The initial idea that envisaged development of the neighborly relations turned quite divergent. On one hand, it envisaged a common policy framework towards Libya and the Palestine and on the other hand it aimed at establishing policy framework towards Moldova and Ukraine. In 2008 the EU, headed by France, established the Euro-Mediterranean Partnership, which was later destroyed by the so-called Arab Spring. On year later Poland and Sweden came up with the idea that the EU had to include in the Eastern Partnership six Post-Soviet States. The programme had to establish institutional commitment between the countries of the eastern periphery of Europe. Initially, the EU did not have serious political expectations towards this project. That is why it did not allot substantial financial resource for its implementation.

“In my view, this was a very formal initiative, which occurred as a counterpoint to the Euro-Mediterranean Partnership", Bulgarian MP from the Bulgarian Socialist Party and former Co-President of the Euronest Parliamentary Assembly Kristian Vigenin told Radio Bulgaria. "This project developed over the years as a large-scale framework of cooperation between the EU and its eastern neighbors. Of course, we have witnessed many weak points in the course of its implementation, but I hope that these weaknesses will be eliminated. The biggest achievement of this partnership regarded the association agreements signed with Moldova, Georgia and Ukraine. Armenia, Belarus and Azerbaijan do not intend to sign such agreement. The EU had the same approach towards all states, but now there are voices saying that we should build individual approach towards these countries. Some problems occurred during the final stage of the association talks, which later resulted in confrontation between the European Union and Russia. The Kremlin saw economic threat in the agreement signed between the EU and Ukraine. The EU refused to constitute Russia as a third partner in these relations and failed to show flexibility. Thus, Ukraine was put under a heavy pressure from both sides. The Eastern Partnership contributed to the establishment of positive parliamentary cooperation and good cooperation between the non-governmental organizations from the EU and its partner countries. Recently, during the latest summit in Riga, the countries highlighted some priorities aimed at improving the work of the institutions, achieving good management, better relations, stronger economic ties, energy and infrastructure interconnections, etc.”

Professor Nina Dulgerova from Varna Free University Cherznorizets Hrabar told Radio Bulgaria more about the Eastern Partnership: “This initiative started with a record-high budget of EUR 1.2 billion. Six months later, this amount was reduced to EUR 900 million. In 2011 the budget allotted to six countries for a period of five years was to the tune of EUR 700 million only. In my view, the European business benefited more than Moldova, Georgia and Ukraine which signed association agreement with the EU, because their economic elite was not motivated to deepen and expand the relations with the union.”

“The Eastern Partnership initiative was born in 2009 as a response to the Black Sea Synergy, born back in 2007”, Professor Dinko Dinkov from the University of National and World Economy said. “I believe that this was due to envy and jealousy. Poland did not like the Black Sea Synergy and tried to change the center of gravity. The EU was proclaiming the idea that there was unanimity in its common foreign policy and that all countries supported jointly such initiatives. The truth is that The Eastern Partnership was not in favor of Bulgaria, because it neglected the Black Sea Synergy. The EU had to focus on the Black Sea region, even in terms of investments. However, the policy of Brussels was quite divergent. The EU and Russia are trying to keep this group of countries under control. The Eastern Partnership Initiative was quite controversial from the very beginning. Later, the partner countries tried to make amendments to the partnership, which tensed the relations between Russia and the EU and put the European security to test.”

English version: Kostadin Atanasov