The sixth Eastern Partnership Summit will be held today in Brussels. The forum will bring together the leaders of the European Union, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Ukraine, Moldova. The meeting will be held without Belarus for the first time. In the summer of this year, Minsk suspended its participation in the program due to the sanctions imposed by the EU.
The agenda of the summit includes issues related to the coronavirus pandemic, reforms and the EU's commitment to the program. It is expected that the security situation in the region, including on the border with Ukraine, Belarus and the settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict will also be discussed.
According to DW, the Eastern Partnership summit, apparently, "will be limited to a minimum program regarding the European perspective." It is expected that the EU leaders will confirm their support for the "European aspirations" of Ukraine, Georgia and Moldova – an "Associated Trio" whose members have association agreements with the EU. Nevertheless, they will not make any promises to these states regarding membership in the European Union.
What does Georgia hope for?
Georgia will be represented at the EAP summit by Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili. He is already in Brussels. The Georgian delegation also includes Deputy Prime Minister, Foreign Minister David Zalkaliani and Head of the Georgian Government Administration Ilya Darchiashvili.
As reported in the press service of the Government of Georgia. Tbilisi hopes to make progress on the issue of access to the EU single market.
"The Georgian side expects that such important issues as gradual integration with the single market of the European Union will be noted," the message says.
Georgia also expects that an ambitious agenda will be approved at the end of the summit, which will contribute to strengthening security, economy, society, environmental protection and digital transformation mechanisms.
"The new agenda includes the achievement of specific goals to be achieved through the new EU regional investment plan. For Georgia, this means strengthening transport, energy and digital connections, including by maximizing the potential of the Black Sea," the government's press service added.
In Brussels, Garibashvili will also hold a number of high-level bilateral meetings, including with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg.
What is the Eastern Partnership?
The Eastern Partnership aims at the political and economic integration of the EU with six countries: Azerbaijan, Armenia, Belarus, Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine. The last three have signed association agreements with the EU, use free trade zones and seek membership in the association.
On May 17, Ukraine, Georgia and Moldova signed a memorandum on the creation of an "Associated Trio" in Kiev. In the document, the countries spoke in favor of intensifying the process of integration with the EU, and also stressed that the Eastern Partnership needs a new political impetus and the designation of new horizons for joint work.
There were a lot of concerns in Brussels about the "trio" format, despite the fact that the leaders of Ukraine, Georgia and Moldova stressed that they did not want to destroy the EAP with their initiative. Later, the EU recognized that they understand the cardinal difference in the interests of the six EAP countries. Brussels hopes that Armenia, Azerbaijan and Belarus will want to cooperate more closely with them in the future.

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