Marking the 10th Anniversary of Eastern Partnership
Together with Embassy of Romania to Slovenia we organized a round table under Romanian Presidency to the EU to mark the 10th Anniversary of Eastern Partnership. Zoran Stančič, Head of the European Commission Representation in Slovenia moderated the discussion with panellists Gheorghe Magheru, Governor for Romania in the Asia – Europe Foundation and Member of the Scientific Council of the New Strategy Center, Andreja Purkart Martinez, Head of Department for Eastern Europe, South Caucasus, Central Asia and the Arctic at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Slovenia and Jana Repanšek Director of the Center of Excellence in Finance. Dobran Božič, State Secretary at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, SIovenia shared an introductory address to the audience.
Since it was launched in 2009 as a specific dimension of the European Neighbourhood Policy, the Eastern Partnership has developed and strengthened strategic and mutually benefitting relationships between the EU and Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine, respectively. The Eastern Partnership aims at building a common area of shared democracy, prosperity, stability and increased cooperation. Additionally, bonds forged through the Eastern Partnership help strengthening state and societal resilience and make both the EU and the partners stronger and better able to deal with internal and external challenges.
Panellists shared their assessment on the Eastern Partnership’s progress and its possible future, from both political and technical perspectives. Jana Repansek, CEF director presented the role of the CEF that it plays in the Eastern Partnership priority area that focuses on strengthening institutions and good governance. CEF via various learning activities increases knowledge and skills of individuals, teams, and institutions that work in the area of public finance and thus contributes to advancing societies governed by the rule of law and prospering from economic growth and financial stability. CEF Governing Board, a decision-making body of the CEF, is currently chaired by Vladimir Munteanu, First Deputy Governor of the National Bank of Moldova. We recently launched a project focused on strengthening of the internal audit function in Georgia. Experts from Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine are increasingly attending our Tax Policy and Administration, and PIFC – Public Internal Financial Control learning initiatives that are financed by Slovenian and Dutch Ministries of Finance.
Panellists’ inputs stimulated a lively exchange of views from the guests including Ambassadors of Moldova, Georgia and Ukraine on the current dynamics of the region as well as the prospects for strengthening the EU's cooperation with the Eastern Partnership states. While visions may differ, both among Eastern Partnership states and EU Member States, there is enough common ground for further development.