May 10, CoE General Affairs Council adopted the negotiating directives for the future Association Agreements between the EU and Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia. Association agreement will enable the EU to expand ties with three South Caucasian countries under the Eastern Partnership program and allow the sides to start negotiations on a number of issues incorporated in the Eastern Partnership project, including relaxation of visa requirements, creation of a common trade zone, etc.

Eastern Partnership is a project initiated by EU and presented by the Polish Foreign Minister at the EU’s General Affairs and External Relations Council in Brussels on 26 May 2008, with Sweden’s assistance.

The project is aimed at EU convergence with six Post-Soviet states – Ukraine, Moldova, Azerbaijan, Armenia, Georgia and Belarus.

A.G.