EU organiseert bijeenkomst met internationale financiële instellingen over Oostelijk Partnerschap (en)

European Commission

MEMO

Brussels, 06 November 2013

The EU hosts a meeting with International Finance Institutions to discuss the Eastern Partnership and enhance cooperation

A high-level meeting took place today between the European Union and major International and European Financial Institutions to discuss the Eastern Partnership in the run-up to the Eastern Partnership summit in Vilnius this November.

Chaired by Commissioner for Enlargement and European Neighbourhood Policy, Štefan Füle, the meeting discussed the level of engagement with the six partner countries - Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine. It was an important opportunity to assess the status of reforms, and to improve coordination and decision-making. Among the topics covered were sectors such as energy, transport, SMEs finance and horizontal issues of governance and business climate. Against the background of the Vilnius Summit (scheduled for 28-29 November), the EU and the International Financial Institutions identified areas of cooperation where support to the Eastern Partner countries, in particular to Ukraine, Moldova and Georgia, can be reinforced.

Following the meeting, Commissioner Füle said: "The European Union is committed to make Vilnius a summit of delivery. For this, we - the EU and the financial institutions - have to coordinate our approaches and join forces. Today's meeting with International Financial Institutions was a great opportunity to discuss reforms in the Eastern partners as well as to improve coordination and shape upcoming decisions together."