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EU Commissioner: â€œWe are determined to increase financial assistance for civil society organizations and invest more in young people from EaP countriesâ€

22 June 2012 08:53 (UTC +04:00)

â€œThe EU has been quick and determined in establishing the foundations of a new European Neighbourhood Policyâ€, the Commissioner points out one year from the launch of the renewed ENP, â€œand is now better equipped to develop links with each partner as far as their aspirations, needs and capacity allowâ€.

â€œWe will seek to assist reforms in partner countries in order to complete the process of transformation towards sustainable democracies based on a competitive market economy. Therefore, we have offered our partners close political association and deep economic integration. Our main tools in the implementation of the EaP agenda are Association Agreements which include also the aim of establishing deep and comprehensive free trade areas, where appropriate. With the Republic of Moldova, Georgia, Armenia and Azerbaijan, the negotiations of the Association Agreements are under way and our priority is to advance them as quickly as possible so that until the time of the next EaP Summit in autumn 2013 we would be close to their finalization or even able to initial themâ€, FÃ¼le said.

â€œWe also have an ambitious agenda in the area of mobility where our final goal is a visa free regime. At the same time, we are determined to deepen our partnership with civil society, increase financial assistance for civil society organizations and invest more in young people from EaP countries through increasing their participation in our educational programme â€œErasmus for Allâ€.â€