PanARMENIAN.Net

`Eastern Partnership’ not promising EU membership
02.05.2009 17:00 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The prospect of Ukraine and other post-Soviet
countries’ membership in EU may become an actual issue in 5-10 years’
time in case of the proper implementation of `Eastern Partnership’
program, saidRuprecht Polents, member of Foreign Affairs Committee of
Bundestag.

According to him the initiative aims to establish maximum close ties
among eastern neighbors. As noted by Mr. Polents, the program does not
promise anything in terms of further prospects of membership.

`At the same time, the fact remains that after the EU expansion in
2004, the community is simply unable to admit new members. Instead, we
offer Ukraine, Georgia, Azerbaijan, Armenia, Moldova and Belarus such
programs that may facilitate discussions over membership issues in
future,’ Deutsche Welle quoted Polents as saying.

The European Commission adopted the `Eastern Partnership’ program on
December 3, 2008. The founding summit will take place in Prague on May
the 7th.