Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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105. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the degree to which Ukraine, Georgia and Armenia continue to be positively supported by the EU; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28352/18]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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The Eastern Partnership Initiative provides a framework for cooperation between the EU and six countries in the EU’s Eastern Neighbourhood, including Ukraine, Georgia and Armenia. The aims of the Eastern Partnership are to promote peace and stability in the region and to enhance economic and political integration between the participating countries and the EU. The model of cooperation with each of the participating states has been tailored to meet their needs and priorities and those of the EU. At the fifth Eastern Partnership Summit in Brussels in November 2017 a revised Eastern Partnership multilateral architecture was adopted to contribute to the goals of the partnership particularly by supporting the implementation of the “20 Deliverables for 2020" which sets the future priorities for the initiative.This roadmap identifies a range of short and long-term milestones aimed at developing a stronger economy, governance, connectivity and society to make tangible and pragmatic improvements to the lives of citizens in partner countries. The Eastern Partnership is viewed as an important tool for promoting peace and stability in the region, in the context of an unpredictable Russia and the conflict in Ukraine. While Ireland is aware of the wider geopolitical considerations at play in the region, we have sought to emphasise the importance of ensuring that the EU’s values continue to guide our approach and that the Eastern Partnership continues to incentivise reform and progress.

The EU is committed to assisting Ukraine in delivering its ambitious and wide-ranging programme of reform and has provided unprecedented levels of support. This assistance includes loans, budget support, humanitarian aid, and technical assistance as well as important trade preferences, granted under the Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Agreement which came into force in 2016. In addition, the EU is helping to reform the civilian security sector through its Advisory Mission to Ukraine.

The EU continues to support efforts by the OSCE to secure full implementation of the Minsk peace agreements, which provide the basis for a comprehensive settlement of the four year conflict in eastern Ukraine. On a visit to Ukraine in March, EU High Representative Federica Mogherini reaffirmed the EU’s unwavering support for Ukraine’s independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity and called on all parties to the conflict to support the vital work of international humanitarian organisations in meeting the needs of the local populations living in close proximity to the contact line as well as the large numbers of Internally Displaced Persons.

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 while underlining the need to ensure sustainability of the changes which have already taken place including on democratic development and fundamental freedoms, on constitutional and parliamentary reform, and anti-corruption reforms.

The EU also fully supports Georgia's territorial integrity within its internationally recognised borders. The appointment in November 2017 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 Union's commitment to helping Georgia address its security challenges.

The European Union continues to have positive relations with Armenia, which receives considerable funding from the EU, with up to €170 million allocated for the period 2014-2017. This was focused on supporting private sector development and driving reforms in the areas of public administration and justice. In the margins of the 2017 Eastern Partnership Summit, Armenia signed a Comprehensive and Enhanced Partnership Agreement with the EU which facilitates political, economic and sectoral cooperation. By intensifying political dialogue and improving cooperation in a broad range of areas, the Agreement lays the foundations for more effective engagement with Armenia.