Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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116. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the extent to which EU relations with Ukraine and Georgia continue to be positive; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48674/17]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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The EU continues to have positive relations with Ukraine and Georgia. Both countries are active participants in the EU’s Eastern Partnership Initiative which provides a framework for cooperation with the six countries of Eastern Europe and the Caucasus region. Both Georgia and Ukraine worked with the EU to develop concrete proposals for the period up to 2020, captured in the document “Eastern Partnership - 20 Deliverables for 2020" which will be adopted at the Eastern Partnership Summit on 24 November. The EU has also ratified Association Agreements with Georgia and Ukraine which aim to promote political association and economic integration with the Union based on shared values.

The EU remains fully committed to assisting Ukraine in delivering its political and economic reform programme and has provided unprecedented levels of support to underpin the Government’s efforts. This support includes loans, budget support, humanitarian aid, technical assistance and trade preferences. In addition, the EU is playing a key role in helping to reform the civilian security sector through its Advisory Mission to Ukraine.

1 September 2017 marked an important milestone in relations with Ukraine when the EU-Ukraine Association Agreement legally entered into force. The fully ratified Agreement will allow the EU to further strengthen political and economic ties with Ukraine. The provisional application of the trade part of the Agreement since last year has already seen a welcome increase of 25% in two way trade and this is expected to continue in the coming years.

The most recent EU-Ukraine Summit took place in Kyiv on 13 July and provided an opportunity to assess progress on the reforms, in particular the fight against corruption.

As regards the conflict in eastern Ukraine, the EU continues to fully support ongoing efforts to secure implementation of the Minsk peace agreements within the framework of the OSCE Trilateral Contact Group (OSCE, Russia and Ukraine) and the Normandy Format (France, Germany, Russia and Ukraine). The Minsk accords offer the only basis for a political resolution to the conflict and the European Union will continue to push for their full implementation.

As with Ukraine, the EU remains committed to its political association and economic integration with Georgia and the successful implementation of the Association Agreement, including its Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area. The EU has praised Georgia's reform efforts as well as underlining the need to ensure sustainability of the reforms. The recently revised EU-Georgia Association Agenda provides a practical framework and guidance for the implementation of priorities for joint work until 2020, based on the Association Agreement. Justice sector reform is one of the key priorities. The EU also fully supports Georgia's territorial integrity within its internationally recognised borders. The appointment of a new EU Special Representative for the South Caucasus and the crisis in Georgia, as well as the EU Monitoring Mission are visible and substantial signs of the EU's commitment to helping Georgia address its security challenges.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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117. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the extent to which positive relations continue to be generated between the EU and Armenia; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48675/17]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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The European Union continues to have positive relations with Armenia. Armenia participates in the EU’s Eastern Partnership initiative which provides a framework for co-operation with the six countries of Eastern Europe and the Caucasus region. Armenia has worked with the EU and the other Eastern Partners to develop concrete proposals for the period up to 2020, captured in the document “Eastern Partnership - 20 Deliverables for 2020" which will be adopted at the Eastern Partnership Summit on 24 November. Armenia receives considerable funding from the EU, with up to €170 million allocated for the period 2014-2017. This is focused on supporting private sector development and driving reforms in the areas of public administration and justice.

In December 2015, negotiations began on a framework agreement between the EU and Armenia covering political, economic and sectoral cooperation. This will replace the current EU-Armenia Partnership and Cooperation Agreement which dates from 1999. The text of the Agreement was initialed on 21 March 2017 and is expected to be signed in the coming weeks.