Prime Minister Ratas: The Estonian Centre of Eastern Partnership is a unique foreign policy instrument

Prime Minister Jüri Ratas visited the Estonian Centre of Eastern Partnership (ECEAP) today. Eastern Partnership is a joint initiative of the European Union i and six Eastern European countries - Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Moldova, Ukraine, and Belarus -, which enables the Eastern Partnership countries to approach the European Union by creating increasingly stronger political, economic, and cultural relations. The visit primarily focused on the main courses of action of ECEAP and the most important secondary events during the Estonian Presidency.

“This is a unique foreign policy instrument in the European Union, which very specifically helps our partners to get closer to Europe through the economy, civil society, and the reforms of governmental authorities. Instead of giving our Eastern partners simply money, ECEAP provides them with a rod in the form of tailor-made solutions, which are chosen together for each partner. The fact that over 1 200 people from the Eastern Partnership countries have received essential training thanks to the centre is impressive and contributes to introducing good governance in our partner countries,” Prime Minister Ratas said.

At the meeting, Director of ECEAP Jaan Reinhold gave an overview of the structure, activities, and main targets of the institution. The principal activity of the centre includes providing the partnership countries with the Estonian reform experience through various cooperation and expert projects. With its activities - study courses, training sessions, capability development seminars - ECEAP tries to promote the development of partnership countries and their integration into the European Union. The relations with the six countries are diverse, therefore, each country will be individually addressed while considering their needs. The association agreements and issues related to visa exemption play an important role in cooperation. Currently, it is possible for the citizens of Moldova and Georgia to travel to the European Union without a visa, and the same will apply to Ukraine soon.

Another important topic of the visit included the secondary events of Eastern Partnership Summit that take place during the Estonian Presidency. Three of them will take place in Estonia, and ECEAP also plays an important role in organising them. The said events are the following: The e-Partnership Conference taking place on 4 October, the Civic Society Conference taking place from 25-27 October, and the Business Forum taking place from 26-28 October. These events will bring high-level experts, key figures, and political representatives of corresponding fields to Estonia both from the European Union member states and the Eastern Partnership countries.