The European Union and the Eastern Partnership countries should cooperate more closely in countering threats to security, according to a declaration by the leaders of the European People’s Party (EPP) and the Eastern Partnership countries, which was agreed at a meeting in Brussels on Nov. 23.
“We support the need of more strengthened role for the EU in solving the conflicts in the Eastern Neighborhood, including the actions aimed at enhancing security and stability, supporting partners in strengthening their resilience, fighting cyber warfare, disinformation and other types of destabilization. We call for the strengthening of cooperation between the partner states and the EU in tackling challenges such as illegal migration, terrorism, cybercrime, money laundering, human trafficking, smuggling and illicit trade, and for the participation, where appropriate, of partner states in EU initiatives relevant to these challenges,” reads the declaration.
The leaders of the EPP and the EaP countries called for intensified interaction of partner states with relevant EU agencies, “in particular, Europol, Eurojust and Frontex, on the basis of bilateral agreements, in order to confront common challenges in the field of security.”
The statement also welcomes the establishment and effective implementation of visa-free regime with Moldova, Georgia and Ukraine and supports the continued implementation of the Visa Liberalization Action Plans to improve people-to-people contacts, “notably through strengthened and close cooperation, in particular in the areas of police and customs – to safeguard against security threats and migration risks.”
“We acknowledge the European aspirations and European choice of the partners concerned, as stated in the Association Agreements,” the declaration says.
