CIS chief threatens ex-Soviet states over joining EU program
The executive secretary of CIS, a Russian-dominated
group of ex-Soviet nations, has warned that the member countries
participating in the European Union`s Eastern Partnership program
"may face difficulties."
Sergei Lebedev told a news conference in Minsk last week that "bringing legislation into compliance with EU demands will require revisiting the agreements reached within the CIS, and then these countries will have to make a choice."
"As a person who is well-versed on the state of the economies, I can see that, at this stage, the EU will not be able to compensate the losses that countries might incur as a result of their participation in the Eastern Partnership," the Russian diplomat said, according to local media.
Lebedev added that program participants would not benefit, even from "minute assistance" worth 600 million euros being offered by the EU.
Lebedev hopes that the participation of six former Soviet republics in the initiative "will have no impact on their involvement within the CIS and they will remain members of the Commonwealth."
The Eastern Partnership, floated by Poland and Sweden, covers Azerbaijan, Georgia, Armenia, Ukraine, Moldova, and Belarus. The participating states signed a declaration on joining the program with the 27-member bloc in Prague on May 7. It envisages simplified visa regulations, free trade and closer energy cooperation, although membership in the bloc is not on the agenda at this point. The participating countries are required to bring their laws into compliance with EU standards, pursue economic reforms and bolster democratic development.
Sergei Lebedev told a news conference in Minsk last week that "bringing legislation into compliance with EU demands will require revisiting the agreements reached within the CIS, and then these countries will have to make a choice."
"As a person who is well-versed on the state of the economies, I can see that, at this stage, the EU will not be able to compensate the losses that countries might incur as a result of their participation in the Eastern Partnership," the Russian diplomat said, according to local media.
Lebedev added that program participants would not benefit, even from "minute assistance" worth 600 million euros being offered by the EU.
Lebedev hopes that the participation of six former Soviet republics in the initiative "will have no impact on their involvement within the CIS and they will remain members of the Commonwealth."
The Eastern Partnership, floated by Poland and Sweden, covers Azerbaijan, Georgia, Armenia, Ukraine, Moldova, and Belarus. The participating states signed a declaration on joining the program with the 27-member bloc in Prague on May 7. It envisages simplified visa regulations, free trade and closer energy cooperation, although membership in the bloc is not on the agenda at this point. The participating countries are required to bring their laws into compliance with EU standards, pursue economic reforms and bolster democratic development.
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