Co-Chair of EaP CSF Steering Committee Delivers Speech at EaP Ministerial in Luxembourg

20 April 2015

Photo by Poland's Representation to the EU

On 20 April, Krzysztof Bobiński urged the decision makers present at the Ministerial Meeting in Luxembourg to maintain the sanctions against Russia until the issue of aggression towards Ukraine is resolved and introduce further restrictive measures if Russian attacks are stepped up.

“It is no good hoping that friendly gestures towards Russia will be appreciated and will bring positive results,” the co-chair told a meeting of EU and Eastern Partnership foreign ministers, as well as EU High Representative and EU Commissioner for ENP.

Bobiński restated the EaP CSF position on the necessity of combatting Russian propaganda in the mass media and introducing sanctions against media bosses in Russia responsible for its dissemination within and outside the country.

The co-chair pointed out the CSF recognition of the Association Agreements signature by Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine as a historic achievement and testament to the Eastern Partnership success. He also underlined the role of CSF members in monitoring implementation of the Association Agreements and crucial importance of civil society involvement in negotiations between the EaP governments and EU.

Krzysztof Bobiński reiterated the CSF position that statement on the EU membership prospects for countries, which signed the Association Agreements, should be included in the joint declaration of the Riga Summit.

The visa liberalisation process in Ukraine and Georgia, and possible security dimension of the EaP policy were stressed as particular issues to be considered.

Full text of the address

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