
ArmInfo. On October 30, the 12th plenary session of the EURONEST Parliamentary Assembly continued in the National Assembly of the Republic of Armenia.
The co-rapporteurs presented the reports adopted in four committees for discussion. The co-rapporteurs for the item "The future of the Eastern Partnership and new prospects for EU enlargement policy for peace, security, and stability in the region," adopted at a meeting of the Committee on Political Affairs, Human Rights, and Democracy, were MEP Oliver Schenk and Ukrainian representative Ivan Krulko.
Oliver Schenk emphasized that in recent years, the Eastern Partnership has become one of the most important cornerstones of the European Union. Speaking about the document, the rapporteur noted: "The Eastern Partnership must cooperate more closely with the EU on security, defense, and energy policy, and pay particular attention to civil society, independent media, and democratic movements. In light of these new political priorities, we call for an Eastern Partnership summit in 2027 to bring together EU Member States, partner countries, and civil society to agree on a new vision for the coming decade." According to the MEP, the Eastern Partnership must become a strategic instrument. "Those who adhere to European values will receive our support, and those who do not will face the consequences," the rapporteur concluded.
The report "Promoting Fair Trade, Cooperation, and Investment between the EU and Eastern Partnership Countries by Supporting Connectivity, the Green Economy Transition, and Infrastructure Development" was presented for discussion by Maria Karapetyan, Co-President of the EURONEST Parliamentary Assembly and Head of the National Assembly Delegation to this body. "We believe in the idea of the new European strategy, the Global Gateway, emphasizing that it is not only an economic initiative but also a strategic framework," stated Maria Karapetyan, adding that the Global Gateway is a model based on transparency, stability, and equal partnership. According to the rapporteur, this connection must be combined with guarantees of good governance, the rule of law, and integration, while judicial independence and anti-corruption measures are essential. This resolution calls for supporting SMEs and women-led enterprises for inclusive growth. On this topic, Maria Karapetyan cited examples from Ukraine, Moldova, Georgia, Azerbaijan, and Armenia. In this regard, she spoke about the broad opportunities offered by the "Crossroads of the World" project, initiated by the Armenian government, for unlocking regional infrastructure.
Then, Member of the European Parliament Pierfrancesco Maran presented a report on the future of interconnected energy. The document aims to accelerate the development of energy relations, prevent political interference, and, through sustained cooperation, achieve energy sovereignty. It was noted that the Ukrainian delegation had submitted two amendments.
The report "Europe's Great Horizon Opens to Better Research," discussed and adopted at a meeting of the Committee on Social Affairs, Employment, Education, Culture, and Civil Society, was then mentioned. The document was presented by Maria Karapetyan, co-chair and head of the National Assembly delegation. Speaking about the importance of the report, Karapetyan noted: "We live in an era of geopolitical pressure, with competition and challenges, and countries need to invest in research systems to survive in a rapidly changing environment and global competitiveness." The Ukrainian delegation presented proposals for the document.
At the end of the session, the reports under discussion were adopted by vote. The results of the working group discussions and future plans were then presented. The co-chairs of the 12th plenary session of the Parliamentary Assembly, Maria Karapetyan and Sergey Lagodinsky, summed up the session's work, noting the productiveness of the discussions and debates.