EURONEST - 2nd Session of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Eastern Partnership, 2-4 April Baku

The Euronest Parliamentary Assembly Committee on Social Affairs, Education, Culture and Civil Society convened on 2 April 2012 in Baku, Azerbaijan, for the first time outside EU borders, and brought together representatives of participating countries which "shows the international community's interest in dynamically developing Azerbaijan," Euronest co-chairman Kristian Vigenin said at a press conference in Baku following the session. Euronest PA co-chairman Boris Tarasuk stressed that as opposed to the first session in Strasbourg, a number of significant decisions, which will contribute to the work of the organization, have been made at the Baku session.

Energy and security, a stronger role for parliamentary democracy and civil society, as well as economic reform assistance to the EU’s Eastern neighbours, were the main topics of the second Euronest meeting which concluded on Wednesday the 4th of April in Baku, Azerbaijan. Resolutions were adopted on all these matters as well as one calling for proper healthcare for Yulia Tymoshenko.
 “This session was proof that we have been drawing lessons from our experience and was a sign of common effort of all partners to make the session a success”, said Co-President of Euronest and Ukraine’s former foreign minister and MP Boris Tarasyuk.

He also mentioned the importance of the involvement of representatives from the Armenian Parliament, despite the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, which still affects bilateral relationships in the region. Mr. Vigenin commended the ability of Armenia and Azerbaijan to sit at the same table despite their difficulties. “What we have seen in this session is a very European approach, and I am proud of it”, he said.

Mr. Vigenin said that the strong participation of MEPs was a sign of the European Parliament's commitment to the developing relationships with its neighbours to the east.  EU Enlargement Commissioner Stefan Füle stressed that Euronest was "not just another institution established under the Eastern Partnership" but, given that the role of parliaments is to "keep governments accountable and advocate reforms", a real tool to advance democratization in EU's eastern neighbourhood.  Mr. Füle also said that the Euronest contribution is much is needed to achieve the aims of the Eastern Partnership and implement the new EU neighbourhood policy instruments.