Support for the territorial integrity of Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine, the prospects of EU accession, urging Russia to withdraw its military forces from the occupied territory of Georgia, and immediate cease of military operations in Ukraine – are the main topics of the resolution which failed to be initiated at the Euronest Parliamentary Assembly because of the opposition representatives from Georgia and the members of the Ukrainian delegation refusing to support it.

Adopted by the 11th Ordinary Session of the Euronest Parliamentary Assembly, held in Brussels on 18-20 March 2024, the draft resolution on Supporting the Path of Georgia, the Republic of Moldova and Ukraine toward EU Membership says:

–          Having regard to the European Council Conclusions of 14 December 2023 to open accession negotiations with Ukraine and with the Republic of Moldova and to grant candidate status to Georgia;

–          Having regard to the Conclusions of the General Affairs Council of 12 December 2023 underlining that enlargement is a geo-strategic investment in peace, security, stability and prosperity, which was reaffirmed in the aforementioned European Council Conclusions;

–          Welcoming the full and unequivocal commitment of the Council to EU membership perspective of the Western Balkans, Ukraine, Moldova and Georgia, as confirmed in its aforementioned Conclusions, reiterating that their future lies within the European Union;

–          Noting resolute commitment of Georgia, the Republic of Moldova and Ukraine to their EU membership goals and determination to employ all means to accomplish these goals;

–          Having regard to the challenges faced by the Eastern Partnership candidate countries, in the face of  aggression, occupation and hybrid threats posed by Russia, which aim to keep them in its sphere of influence and impede their process of EU integration;

–          Emphasizing the importance of the EU’s continued support for the EaP EU candidate countries in their reform efforts on the path of the EU accession;

–          Highlighting that the EU’s enlargement policy has transformative power and plays an important role as a strategic investment in peace, democracy, prosperity, security and stability in Europe;

The 11th Ordinary Session of the Euronest Parliamentary Assembly, held in Brussels on 18-20 March 2024:

Emphasises that today the European Union and the Eastern Partnership countries find themselves at a critical juncture for the European security architecture and the international rules-based order;

Reiterates its deep concern over Russia’s ongoing full-scale military aggression against Ukraine and reaffirms its unwavering solidarity with Ukraine;

Reiterates its deep concern over Russia’s occupation of Georgia’s indivisible regions of Abkhazia and Tskhinvali region/South Ossetia, and its intensified annexation process, which together represent the clear attempt to forcibly change the borders of the sovereign state in Europe;

Reiterates the EU’s commitment to the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Georgia, the Republic of Moldova and Ukraine, within their internationally recognised borders and supports their efforts to fully enforce those principles;

Calls on the international community to strengthen respect to the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Georgia, the Republic of Moldova and Ukraine, deter Russian aggression and protect European security;

Demands that Russia immediately terminate all military activities in Ukraine, unconditionally withdraw all forces, proxies and military equipment from the internationally recognised territory of Ukraine and refrain from further threatening or violating its independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity;

Appeals to the EU institutions and the Member States to take decisive steps to ensure that Russia fulfils its obligations under the EU-mediated 12 August 2008 Ceasefire Agreement, in particular to withdraw all its military and security forces from Georgia’s territory, and to grant the EU Monitoring Mission unimpeded access to the Russia-occupied Georgian regions according to its mandate; calls for the EU institutions and the Member States to use the term ‘occupation’ with regard to the Georgian regions of Abkhazia and Tskhinvali region/South Ossetia that are illegally occupied by and under effective control of Russia, as established by the judgments of the ECHR and the investigation of the ICC;

Recognizes the commitment of EaP candidate countries to their European future and their contributions to stability and security in the region;

Commends the efforts of Georgia, the Republic of Moldova and Ukraine in implementing reforms, strengthening democracy, rule of law, human rights and economic development, and encourages them to step up the reform track in line with the recommendations spelled out in the European Commission Communication on Enlargement Policy of 8 November 2023;

Welcomes finalization of proposals by the Commission for the draft Negotiating Frameworks with Ukraine and the Republic of Moldova, subject to the approval by the Council, and calls for working towards opening accession talks with Georgia, in line with the merit-based approach;

Reiterates that respecting and committing to promoting the values on which the EU is founded, and meeting the obligations required for EU membership, are essential for all partners who aspire to join the EU;

Calls for smooth and timely transition of the EaP EU candidate countries to the Pre-Accession Instrument (IPA) and make available necessary funds to help them meet EU standards and fulfil the criteria for EU membership;

Welcomes  elaboration of the tailored roadmaps for the gradual accession of Ukraine and Moldova to EU’s Single Market, on the basis of enhanced implementation of the Association Agreements and the Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area (DCFTA’s) as well as good progress made to agree the similar action plan with Georgia;

Calls on the Member States to give a new impetus to the enlargement process and deliver on their promises through concrete positive steps in the accession phases of the countries that seek to join the Union and work hard to achieve this goal;

Emphasizes the importance of the continued cooperation between the Euronest Parliamentary Assembly and the parliaments of Georgia, the Republic of Moldova and Ukraine, in support of their EU membership goals.