On the Participation of the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Belarus Mr.Vladimir Makei in the Eastern Partnership Ministerial Meeting in Brussels

22-07-2014

The Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Belarus Mr.Vladimir Makei took part in the Eastern Partnership Ministerial Meeting, which was held in Brussels on 22 July 2014.

Among the participants of the meeting were High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Catherine Ashton, European Commissioner for Enlargement and European Neighborhood Policy Štefan Füle, Foreign Ministers of the EU Member States and the EaP Partner Countries.

foto — Council of the EU Press Office

The Ministerial Meeting focused on the EaP implementation after the 2013 Vilnius Summit as well as the prospects of future development and possible reformatting taking into account the current situation in the region and the signing by Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine of the Association Agreements with the EU. The ministers also discussed preparation for the EaP forth Summit to be held in Riga (Latvia) on 22 May 2015.

In his plenary statement Mr.Vladimir Makei outlined Belarus’ principal approaches towards the development of the relations with the European Union and participation in the Eastern Partnership. He stressed the necessity for a greater differentiation in the relations of the EU with the EaP Partner Countries with account taken of their needs, interests and integration aspirations. Particular attention was drawn to the importance of harmonizing different integration processes and engaging third countries, first of all Russia, in the EaP activities in order to avoid creation of new dividing lines in the region.

foto — Council of the EU Press Office

While in Brussels, Mr.Vladimir Makei met with top officials of the European External Action Service and the European Commission as well as ministers of foreign Affairs of the EU Member States and the EaP Partner Countries to discuss the current issues and opportunities of developing cooperation between Belarus and the European partners at the EU and bilateral level.

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