EU Ambassador: Eastern Partnership - important platform for cooperation

Eastern Partnership is an important platform for cooperation, EU Ambassador to Azerbaijan Peter Michalko said during an event on the activity of the Eastern Partnership program.

He said there is a potential for developing ties with the countries participating in this program in the current conditions.

The European Union launched the Eastern Partnership program in 2009. Its main goal is to develop regional cooperation with six countries, including Azerbaijan, Armenia, Belarus, Georgia, Moldova, and Ukraine.

As the ambassador noted, the Eastern Partnership summit last December reformed the strategic partnership with the EaP countries. During the event, it was announced that the European Union intends to invest more than 2 billion euros in the Eastern Partnership program.

According to Michalko, the EaP program is now focused on supporting Ukraine. He said the member States support Ukraine in these difficult days and call on Russia to stop the aggression and respect the territorial integrity of Ukraine.

The ambassador noted that within the framework of cooperation with Azerbaijan, the EU offers many programs for students, including Erasmus Mundus, Erasmus+, and others, and implements twinning projects.

Michalko added that the EU is Azerbaijan's biggest trading partner and an essential source for investment.