Slow progress in effectively solving conflicts is painful, a European official said.

“Events in our Southern neighborhood illustrate that long term stability cannot be assured by non-democratic regimes. In response, throughout its neighborhood, the European Union is putting an even stronger emphasis on promoting deep and sustainable democracy,” EU Commissioner for Enlargement and Neighborhood Policy Stefan Fule told the Eastern Partnership Summit in Warsaw.

“As promised at my last meeting with the Steering Committee of the Civil Society Forum, I asked the EU delegations in the six Partner countries to organize a series of meetings with the National Platforms of the Civil Society Forum to prepare for this Summit, in co-operation with the governmental authorities,” he said.

“These meetings have occurred in all six countries and we are currently reflecting on their results. I share many of the concerns you raised, including the lack of information about the Eastern Partnership in your countries and the need to encourage governments to create inclusive processes for your participation,” Mr. Fule added.

“Today, I spoke about establishing a Neighborhood Civil Society Facility. This can support your efforts - at national, regional and local levels, where the voice of civil society is equally needed. I hope to continue this delegation-facilitated dialogue in a structured way,” he concluded.