On 11 May, the European Union (EU) Council stated that it would start negotiations on a visa-free regime with the Eastern Partnership countries (EaP), which do not yet have it, but only if certain conditions were met.  

Under these regulations, the possibility to start negotiations on visa liberalization with the rest of the countries whose citizens require visas to travel to the EU, “will be considered in due time, if conditions allow.” These conditions, in particular, include compliance with the existing travel regime, satisfactory implementation of visa facilitation and readmission agreements. The EU Council also expressed concern over the large number of unsubstantiated asylum applications from nationals of certain partner countries is of concern to the EU Member States. So far, only Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine have a visa-free travel regime with the EU, while Armenia, Azerbaijan and Belarus do not.

Prior to the statement, the EU Council approved the conclusions on the “Eastern Partnership policy beyond 2020” document which was adopted on 18 March 2020 (Caucasus Watch reported), reaffirming its strategic importance, and the joint commitment to building a common area of shared democracy, prosperity and stability. The EU Council stressed the importance of the future Eastern Partnership being a more strategic, ambitious, flexible and inclusive framework for cooperation, allowing participants to tackle common and global challenges jointly in a wide range of areas, especially in the current unprecedented situation caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

The conclusions call firmly for a renewed commitment to the fundamentals of the Eastern Partnership. These include democracy, human rights, rule of law, good governance, and successful anti-corruption policies, but also economic reforms, environmental, climate and energy challenges, digital transformation and investing in people.