ZAGREB, June 11, 2020 - The engagement with the six Eastern Partnership states remains an EU priority and almost €4 billion in aid has been mobilised for them, Croatian Foreign Minister Gordan Grlic Radman said on Thursday after a video conference with his counterparts in the initiative.
"We confirmed that the engagement with these six states remains a European Union priority," he said after two video conferences, one on tourism and the other an informal meeting of EU and Eastern Partnership ministers.
The EU is solidary with those states, as shown by the mobilisation of €962 million as part of the Team Europe package for the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic and €3 billion in additional macro-financial assistance, said Grlic Radman.
He said he was especially pleased that this meeting took place during the Croatian presidency after the Zagreb Summit with Western Balkan countries in May.
The meeting was held ahead of a June 18 video conference of the 27 leaders of EU member states and the six leaders of the Eastern Partnership states Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Moldova, and Ukraine.
"I supported the efforts the six Eastern Partnership states are investing in reforms," said Grlic Radman. "I encouraged them to continue on that path because their achievements also contribute to our security, stability, and prosperity."
"In particular, I pointed to the need to deepen economic cooperation, invest in youth and connecting and environmental protection projects, strengthen the ability to respond to crises such as the current pandemic," he said.
He underlined that Croatia was commended for its Council of the EU presidency, which ends on June 30, to be taken over by Germany.
