March 19, 2009 - 16:45 AMT
EU can sign visa-free agreement with Eastern Partnership states
EU plans to introduce visa-free regime for Eastern Partnership Member States, including Armenia, Azerbaijan, Byelorussia, Georgia, Moldavia and Ukraine, EU statement stipulated.
"EU is interested in the intensification of relations with Eastern Partnership" Member States, that are of strategic importance to the Union," the statement drawn up by Czechia specifies.
The initiative will become a foundation for further collaboration with Eastern Partnership Member States that have shown solid progress in democracy, supremacy of law, human rights, market economy, sustainable development and correct governance. According to the statement, establishment of closer ties between the countries' legislative systems and creation of joint organizations to create free trade zones with 27 EU Member states and 6 partners are planned within Eastern Partnership framework, Interfax reported.