The Eastern Partnership (EaP) is the first Polish initiative incorporated into the system of the European Union’s external relations. It was approved by the European Council at its meeting on 19-20 March 2009. The EaP is addressed to Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine.

The Eastern Partnership is designed to facilitate the achievement of one of the key goals of Polish foreign policy, the approximation and integration of East European countries with the European Union. The EaP introduces a new quality into relations between the EU and the countries involved, through their gradual integration with the EU.

The first conceptual document providing for the establishment of the Eastern Partnership was a joint Polish-Swedish non-paper of May 2008. Subsequently, the European Council approved the initiative and instructed the European Commission to draft a relevant implementing document. On 3 December 2008 the Commission presented its Communication on the Eastern Partnership.

In its conclusions of December 2008, the European Council welcomed the proposals contained in the Communication and recommended further works on the project. The European Council emphasized its commitment to intensify EU policy initiatives towards its eastern neighbors using the EaP, both in bilateral and multilateral contexts, in order to enhance the stability of these countries and to establish closer links with the EU. Finally, in March 2009 the Eastern Partnership was approved in an ambitious format by the European Council in the Presidency Conclusions and a Declaration on the EaP.The initiative was launched at the first Eastern Partnership summit in Prague on 7 May 2009, which adopted a Joint Declaration and brought to a successful conclusion the Polish and Swedish efforts to establish the initiative as an integral part of the European Union’s policy. The Prague summit brought together heads of state and government and other representatives of EU member states and the partner countries, as well as representatives of the European Commission and the Council Secretariat. The summit was also attended by representatives of the European Parliament, the Committee of the Regions, the Economic and Social Committee, the European Investment Bank (EIB) and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD).

The implementation of Partnership goals will facilitate the approximation of the partner countries to the EU, enhancing full integration with the EU in the future. The Eastern Partnership is based on the principles of joint ownership, differentiation and conditionality. Rooted in European values, standards and norms, the EaP will promote cooperation in the following areas: human rights, market economy, sustainable development, good governance and energy security and many others. Diverse entities may become involved in the EaP, including central, regional and local government bodies, NGOs, financial institutions, and others comprising the foundations of a civil society.

The main Eastern Partnership goals include:

• establishment of a political association between the EU and EaP countries;
• creation of deep and comprehensive free trade areas;
• gradual liberalization of the visa regime, with visa-free regime as a long-term goal of the EaP;
• legal integration (including values, norms and standards);
• upgrading of energy security cooperation;
• creation of EaP multilateral framework, including: four thematic platforms dedicated to :
  • democracy, good governance and stability;
  • economic integration and convergence with EU policies,
  • energy security;
  • people-to-people contacts;

• launching of flagship initiatives including:

• Integrated Border Management Programme;
• SME facility;
• Regional electricity markets, improved energy efficiency and increased use of renewable energy sources;
• Southern energy corridor;
• Prevention of, preparedness for, and response to natural and man-made disasters.

Poland considers the launching of the Eastern Partnership at the Prague Summit on 7 May 2009 to be a great success of the European Union and its Eastern Partners. The summit has initiated a new stage in the relationship between the EU and its Eastern Partners – Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine. Third countries (including Russia) will have an opportunity to participate in some of the projects carried out as part of multilateral cooperation, on a case-by-case basis. Senior officials (thematic platforms) will meet at least twice a year, the foreign ministers of EaP countries will meet annually and Partnership summits will be held every two years. The summits will control progress and define new areas of cooperation and development for the next two years. There are also plans for meetings of key ministers and panels providing expert support for the activity of the thematic platforms. The development prospects of the initiative will depend on a substantial degree on the involvement of international financial institutions in the financing of Partnership projects.