European Parliament proposes to cancel roaming between EU and Eastern  Partnership countries

ArmInfo. Increased funding for the Eastern Partnership countries, recognition that not all countries are equally interested in rapprochement with the EU, as well as a proposal to cancel roaming: these are the recommendations of the  European Parliament's Committee on Foreign Affairs.

Discussion of recommendations for the June EU summit with the heads of countries and governments of Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine took place on Tuesday, Gazeta Prawna writes. At the  initiative of Polish European MPs, the meeting's report included the  recommendation to cancel roaming charges for using cell phones in the  Eastern Partnership countries, as well as between the EU and these  countries. "Today and after 2020, the European Commission must take  decisive action with respect to the Eastern Partnership countries as  never before, because the geopolitical future of the region, as well  as the stability of the EU, are threatened," MPs Radoslaw Sikorski  and Michael Gahler made a joint statement. The Committee on Foreign  Affairs believes that the Eastern Partnership summit next month  should bring a clear long-term strategy for engaging and developing  cooperation between the EU and its Eastern neighbors. European  parliamentarians want EU governments to prepare a clear and ambitious  cooperation plan that will provide concrete assistance to Ukraine,  Moldova, Armenia, Azerbaijan and Belarus. At the same time, they  believe that the EU should demonstrate greater involvement and offer  more to countries that are reforming in the direction of European  standards. At the same time, the lawmakers say that the strengthening  of financial support should be related to the criteria for reform.  

"The most ambitious countries that have signed an association  agreement and are implementing an in-depth and comprehensive free  trade agreement - Georgia and Ukraine - should know that the next  successes and implemented reforms open up new prospects for them, new  sectors of cooperation," said the MP from ''Law and Justice "Anna  Fotyga. "We understand that some EaP countries have chosen different  goals. The goal of the EU policy remains unchanged: to deepen our  relations within the framework of international law and basic values,  as well as to strengthen stability and prosperity in the entire  region," Radoslaw Sikorski added. The June Eastern Partnership Summit  will review the results achieved since the previous summit in 2017.   In addition, leaders must approve long- term political goals,  determine the direction for further strengthening cooperation, and  approve the mandate for preparatory work on the next series of goals  for the period after 2020.