Minister-president Rutte en minister Koenders bij Top Oostelijk Partnerschap in Riga

Thursday 21 - Friday 22 May: Eastern Partnership Summit in Riga

The news:

The fourth Eastern Partnership summit will be held in Riga, Latvia on 21-22 May 2015. It will bring together the leaders of the European Union and the Member States with those of Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine.

European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker and President of the European Council Donald Tusk will travel to Riga to represent the European Union, alongside High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Frederica Mogherini, the President of the European Parliament, Martin Schultz, European Commissioner for Neighbourhood Policy and Enlargement Negotiations Johannes Hahn and Commissioner for Trade Cecelia Malmström. The summit will be chaired by President Tusk and hosted by the Latvian Presidency of the Council of the EU.

The background:

The Eastern Partnership (EaP), launched in May 2009 at the Prague Summit, frames the relationship between the European Union and its Eastern neighbours. It is part of the European Neighbourhood Policy, tailoring it to the unique kind of relationship the EU has with its six Eastern European partner countries: Armenia; Azerbaijan; Belarus; Georgia; the Republic of Moldova and Ukraine.

The Eastern Partnership is based on commitments to the principles of international law and to fundamental values, including democracy, the rule of law and the respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms, as well as to market economy, sustainable development and good governance. It is founded on common interests and commitments, as well as shared ownership and mutual accountability. While increasingly taking a differentiated approach to each of its partners, the Partnership is inclusive in nature, supporting the commitment of the EaP partners to shared values and necessary reforms. The Eastern Partnership strives to be equally relevant to all partners, regardless of the level of ambition they pursue in their relations with the European Union.

The event:

The Riga summit will be an opportunity to reconfirm the importance the EU attaches to its Eastern Partnership and to demonstrate EU's determination to pursue closer, differentiated relations with its independent and sovereign EaP partners whilst working constructively with all to avoid dividing lines on the European continent. Discussions at the summit will also inform the ongoing review of the ENP.

A number of side events will demonstrate that the Eastern Partnership goes beyond intergovernmental relations to involve civil society, media, business and other stakeholders:

A number of press materials will be available in the run-up to the summit, including a memo and a number of leaflets.

Live coverage will be provided by Audio-visual services of the institutions in cooperation with the host broadcaster of the Presidency. The summit and side events will be covered also on social media platforms.

The sources (including accreditation information):

http://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/meetings/international-summit/2015/05/21-22/

The contacts:

Margaritis Schinas, +32 229 60524, Margaritis.Schinas@ec.europa.eu

Mina Andreeva, +32 229 91382, Mina.Andreeva@ec.europa.eu

Maja Kocijancic, +32 2 298 65 70, Maja.Kocijancic@ec.europa.eu

Anca Paduraru, +32 229 66430, anca.paduraru@ec.europa.eu

Eamonn Prendergast, +32 229 98851, eamonn.prendergast@ec.europa.eu