On the occasion of the Eastern Partnership Leaders videoconference meeting, the European Commission DG NEAR and the German Council on Foreign Relations organized a high-level think tank event on 19 June. In the framework of the event, participants discussed the future of the Eastern Partnership.
The event reflected on the post-2020 Eastern Partnership policy framework with its overarching focus on resilience and its five policy objectives (economy and connectivity; rule of law and security; inclusive societies and both the green and digital transformations). It also assessed the EU response to the COVID-19 pandemic and reflected on the impact of the challenges it poses in the short and medium-term.
Ms. Syuzanna Soghomonyan, the representative of the ALA, EaP CSF delegate for the 2020-2021 cycle, and Ms. Mariam Zadoyan, member of the ALA have also participated in the event. Syuzanna Soghomonyan has raised a question related to the intention to change EU directions in the light of the COVID-19. In particular, whether the EU is planning to change already adopted main priority areas and set out new ones. In response, the speakers talked about the intention to foster the digital tools in EaP countries as well as the resilience of the countries in fighting the pandemic.