After the meeting in Brussels, EU Foreign Affairs Council called to accelerate finalizing of the Association Agreements with Moldova, Georgia and Armenia.

“The Council recalls that the European Council has called for progress as regards the Association Agreements including DCFTAs with the Republic of Moldova, Georgia and Armenia with a view to their finalisation by the time of the Summit. It appreciates the launching of work with these partners on Association Agendas to replace the ENP Action Plans with the view to preparing for and facilitating the implementation of the Association Agreements. The Council also welcomes the progress underway in the Association Agreement negotiations with Azerbaijan,” the Council said in Conclusions on Eastern Partnership.

“Negotiations on both the Visa Facilitation and Readmission Agreements with Armenia have been swiftly concluded and the Visa Facilitation Agreement with Armenia was signed in December 2012. The Council now looks forward to their entry into force by the time of the Vilnius Summit,” the statement reads.

The Foreign Ministers also recalled the significant EU financial support provided for partner countries’ reform efforts in the period from 2010 to 2013 amounting to €1.9 billion.

With the view to preparing the Vilnius Summit of November 2013, the Council looks forward to the Eastern Partnership Foreign Ministers meeting in July of this year.