C/2026/1109

26.2.2026

Resolution by the Euronest Parliamentary Assembly on the future of the Eastern Partnership and the new prospects of the EU enlargement policy: towards the need for peace, security, and stability in the Region, as adopted on 30 October 2025

(C/2026/1109)

THE EURONEST PARLIAMENTARY ASSEMBLY,

A.

whereas the Eastern Partnership (EaP) policy, launched in 2009, has demonstrated significant success in strengthening resilience and fostering closer political and economic ties across the EaP region; whereas the EaP policy is a key tool to advance regional priorities, notably on the rule of law reforms and on security, particularly in the context of Russia’s illegal, unprovoked and unjustified full-scale military invasion of Ukraine, which entered its fourth year in 2025;

B.

whereas the EU’s enlargement policy is the most effective EU foreign policy instrument; whereas the prospect of EU accession remains a key driver of long-term security, peace, stability and prosperity in Europe, and continues to promote common values, including democracy, the rule of law and respect for fundamental rights, while fostering economic growth;

C.

whereas inclusive democratic transformation requires the full protection and participation of all citizens, regardless of their sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression or sex characteristics; whereas gender equality and non-discrimination are fundamental values of the European Union;

D.

whereas the opening of EU accession negotiations with Moldova and Ukraine on 25 June 2024 marked a historic milestone on their European path and sent a political signal of the Union’s commitment to their future membership, which should be complemented by the opening of the negotiations on Cluster I (Fundamentals) as soon as possible;

E.

whereas Armenia and Azerbaijan have made historic progress towards ending their almost four-decade-long conflict by initialling the Agreement on the Establishment of Peace and Inter-State Relations; whereas lasting peace, cooperation and reconciliation remain essential for the stability and security of the wider EaP region;

F.

whereas the Armenian Parliament adopted its EU Integration Act on 26 March 2025, launching the process of EU accession and marking its commitment to advancing its relationship with the EU;

G.

whereas recent developments in Georgia have demonstrated serious democratic backsliding, including the rigged parliamentary elections of 26 October 2024, the government’s announcement on 28 November 2024 that it would delay EU accession talks until 2028, and the subsequent implementation of a series of anti-democratic legislative acts aimed at silencing all possible dissident voices, particularly from civil society, academia and independent media, attacking minorities, in particular the LGBTI+ community, and eliminating viable democratic political opposition;

H.

whereas the 30-year authoritarian Belarusian regime led by Aliaksandr Lukashenka continues to systematically repress political activists, civil society, human rights defenders, trade unionists, lawyers and journalists, both within Belarus and abroad;

I.

whereas the Azerbaijani authorities have been severely restricting space for civil society and independent media, with widespread and debilitating repression of human rights defenders, trade unionists, journalists, and civic and political activities and limitations on civil liberties; whereas the number of political prisoners in Azerbaijan has steeply increased in recent years, reaching almost 400; whereas the human rights situation in Azerbaijan is equal to, if not worse than, the situation in Belarus; whereas the latest presidential elections held in February 2024 were assessed by the election observation mission of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) as ‘not competitive’ and ‘held in a restrictive environment’; whereas the OSCE election observation mission added that ‘recent arrests of critical journalists have hindered the media from operating freely’, which raised serious concern regarding the secrecy of the vote, the lack of safeguards preventing people from voting more than once, indications of ballot stuffing, and the irregular counting and reporting of ballots;

1.

Underlines and appreciates that in times of political instability, democratic backsliding, increasing authoritarianism and challenges to the rules-based international order, as well as the geopolitical complexity exacerbated by Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine, the EaP policy has played a crucial role in maintaining a reference point for the EaP countries and their citizens concerning the rules and principles of the European Union; is convinced that continuing to invest in effective rule of law measures, stable democratic institutions and security is the only way to preserve past achievements, ensure a prosperous future and, most importantly, secure long-term, sustainable and irreversible change and approximation towards the European Union, together with increased investment against disinformation; stresses the importance of fighting against disinformation since, where Russia does not invade by military means, it seeks to dominate the information space in the EaP countries, with Georgia being a clear example of this; underlines that the EaP policy continues to provide a framework ensuring sustained engagement between government and civil society with the objective of maintaining democratic accountability and oversight, irrespective of any suspension or postponement of EU accession negotiations;

2.

Calls for the EU to organise an EaP political summit by 2027 to establish revised priorities endorsed by EU Member States, EaP countries and civil society; underlines the critical importance of the European Neighbourhood Instrument within the 2028- 2034 multiannual financial framework to adequately support the renewed post-2025 EaP policy priorities; emphasises the critical role of civil society as a trusted interlocutor and driver of change; expresses deep concern about recent funding cuts and calls for strengthened institutional support, capacity building programmes and sustainable core funding mechanisms for EaP civil society organisations (CSOs), including those in exile;

3.

Calls for the EU to recalibrate the EaP policy in accordance with the new geopolitical realities, taking into account the fact that certain EaP countries are on track to worsen democratic backsliding, while others are now pursuing EU membership, which may call into question the relevance of the EaP framework as it stands today; notes that the reform of the Eastern Partnership needs to focus on and adapt to the different dynamics in each of its partner countries and give priority to the states that demonstrate full commitment to EU values and principles; notes that the reform of the Eastern Partnership could also take into consideration the expansion of the current geographical scope of the EaP policy; underlines, however, that this should not be detrimental to the EU’s commitment to supporting democracy and human rights in all EaP countries;

4.

Recalls the transformative power of the EU’s enlargement policy, which is one of the Union’s most successful policies; recalls that the EU accession process is a merit-based and strictly conditional political process and reaffirms the validity of the Copenhagen criteria; acknowledges the need for the EU to enhance the effectiveness of and, where necessary, upgrade its new enlargement strategy in the light of the new, challenging and rapidly evolving geopolitical context;

5.

Recalls that EU financial and technical assistance to the EaP countries is conditional upon respect for the rule of law, democratic institutions and fundamental rights, in accordance with the principles of sound financial management and protection of the Union’s financial interests; stresses that mutual accountability between the European Union and the EaP partners is essential to ensure trust, transparency and long-term cooperation;

6.

Reiterates its condemnation, in the strongest possible terms, of Russia’s illegal, unprovoked and unjustified full-scale military invasion of Ukraine, which has entered its fourth year and in which the illegitimate Lukashenka regime is complicit; demands that Russia terminate all military action in and against Ukraine and withdraw all military forces and military equipment from the territory of Ukraine within internationally recognised borders, including territorial waters; strongly underlines Ukraine’s inherent right to self-defence in line with Article 51 of the UN Charter; reaffirms the commitment of the EU and the EaP countries to the restoration of a comprehensive, just and lasting peace for Ukraine, in accordance with the UN Charter, which respects the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine and is based on terms that are acceptable for Ukraine and its people;

7.

Reiterates its firm condemnation of the fact that Ukrainian citizens are being forced to serve in the armed forces of the aggressor state, residents of the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine are being coerced into obtaining Russian passports, the Ukrainian identity is being destroyed, and children and young people are being indoctrinated and militarised in a blatant violation of the Fourth Geneva Convention of 1949;

8.

Recognises that Ukraine’s victory and the restoration of its full territorial integrity within internationally recognised borders, including territorial waters, is fundamental to ensuring a comprehensive, just and lasting peace, security and stability, not only in the EaP region but across the entire European continent; emphasises that Ukraine’s success in defending the European values of democracy, the rule of law and territorial sovereignty against Russia’s war of aggression serves as a crucial deterrent to further destabilisation attempts in Europe; stresses that sustainable peace in Europe is impossible without the establishment of robust security guarantees for Ukraine that would prevent future acts of Russia’s aggression; calls for the EU and its international partners to intensify support for Ukraine’s defence capabilities and post-war reconstruction as an investment in the European security architecture; underlines that Ukraine’s future EU membership will significantly strengthen the Union’s eastern borders and contribute to the collective security of all European nations;

9.

Calls on the Ukrainian authorities to maintain democracy, human rights and parliamentary pluralism, to develop democratic institutions, to ensure the functioning of independent media, political opposition, anti-corruption bodies and CSOs on the way to effectively opening the first chapter of negotiations with the EU on fundamentals, based on the Copenhagen Criteria, to refrain from actions that undermine civil and political unity, to lift all restrictions on free parliamentary diplomacy, and to reform judicial and law enforcement systems in accordance with EU requirements; underscores that democratic values are the basis for effective opposition against ongoing Russian aggression in the fight for freedom;

10.

Emphasises its full support for the ongoing investigation by the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC) into the situation in Ukraine, the scope of which encompasses alleged war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide; welcomes Ukraine’s ratification of the Rome Statute of the ICC; expresses its utmost concern about the US sanctions against the ICC and its prosecutors, judges and staff, which constitute a serious attack on the international justice system; calls on the Commission to urgently activate the Blocking Statute and on the Member States to urgently increase their diplomatic efforts in order to protect and safeguard the ICC as an indispensable cornerstone of the international justice system;

11.

Honours the thousands who have given their lives for a free, independent and democratic Ukraine; reiterates its unwavering solidarity with the people of Ukraine and its support for the independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine, within its internationally recognised borders, including territorial waters; condemns the systematic deportation and unlawful detention of thousands of Ukrainian children by the Russian Federation, which constitute a grave violation of international law, including the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, and fundamental principles of international humanitarian law; condemns, furthermore, the fact that these actions have been accompanied by the deliberate separation of children from their families, the unlawful imposition of Russian citizenship, and attempts to forcibly assimilate Ukrainian citizens into a culture and identity that bear no connection to their native environment, language or traditions; stresses that such practices constitute an assault on the very essence of human dignity and require a united and resolute response from the international community; calls for the immediate and unconditional return of all affected children to Ukraine under international supervision;

12.

Reiterates the need to further strengthen the international architecture of accountability for the crime of aggression against Ukraine; supports the continued development of the Register of Damage for Ukraine as a key instrument to document the damages, losses and injuries caused by the war; calls for the establishment of a Special Tribunal for the Crime of Aggression against Ukraine, ensuring that those responsible at the highest political and military level are held to account; urges all partners to work towards signing an international treaty to establish a claims commission for Ukraine by the end of 2025, as a complementary mechanism to secure reparations and effective justice for victims;

13.

Strongly condemns the extreme brutality and systematic cruelty perpetrated by Russians against Ukrainian civilians and prisoners of war (POWs), in particular the execution of Ukrainian POWs by Russian forces, which constitutes a war crime and grave breach of the Geneva Conventions, and the severe torture, mistreatment and malnourishment of Ukrainian POWs; urges Russia to immediately agree to and implement a comprehensive ‘all-for-all’ exchange of POWs with Ukraine, in accordance with its obligations under international humanitarian law and the Geneva Conventions, and to release all illegally detained Ukrainian civilians;

14.

Appreciates the humanitarian aid that the EU and EaP countries, in particular Moldova, have provided to Ukraine; recalls that, since March 2022, the EU has given safety and shelter to over 4 million Ukrainians fleeing war, on the basis of the Temporary Protection Directive  ( 1 ) ; welcomes the EU’s decision, in June 2025, to extend this temporary protection until March 2027;

15.

Stresses that Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine is an existential threat to European security and stability and to the EaP region; recalls that Russia’s strong political interference, annexation attempts and illegal occupation of the territories in other EaP countries, such as Abkhazia and the Tskhinvali region in Georgia and the Transnistrian region of the Republic of Moldova, also pose a serious threat to the EaP region and to Europe as a whole; calls, therefore, for economic and financial sanctions to be strengthened against the Russian Federation and for trade operations with the country to be limited until it stops its war of aggression against Ukraine and the hybrid attacks threatening EU and EaP countries; underlines that sustainable peace and human security in the EaP region are essential for the EU; reiterates its unequivocal support for the sovereignty, territorial integrity and political independence of the EaP countries within their internationally recognised borders, including territorial waters, and supports their efforts to fully enforce these principles;

16.

Recalls the importance of promoting the strategic objectives of human security and sustainable peace across the EaP region and beyond; commends, in this regard, the Armenia-Azerbaijan summit hosted by the United States on 8 August 2025, at which the Agreement on the Establishment of Peace and Inter-State Relations was initialled and the leaders of Armenia and Azerbaijan reaffirmed that all regional communications and infrastructure would be opened on the basis of respect for the sovereignty, territorial integrity and jurisdiction of the two countries, including the connectivity project of the Trump Route for International Peace and Prosperity; praises the two governments’ determination to end their almost four-decade-long conflict; encourages the parties to sign and ratify the peace treaty as soon as possible; appreciates the EU’s active engagement in supporting this process and these negotiations; calls for further progress to be made in the border delimitation process and for the full withdrawal of Azerbaijani forces from the territory of the Republic of Armenia; recalls the need to resolve the outstanding issues of Armenian prisoners in Azerbaijan and displaced Armenians from the former Nagorno-Karabakh autonomous region and calls for an end to the destruction of Armenian cultural heritage therein;

17.

Believes that EaP policy must be adapted to current geopolitical challenges and dynamics; expresses deep concern over the growing scale of disinformation and propaganda campaigns in the EaP countries, orchestrated by the Russian Federation; notes that such actions are accompanied by advanced interference in national political processes, achieved through the occupation of the information sphere, including both traditional media and social networks;

18.

Calls for the establishment of enhanced EU mechanisms and intensified international cooperation to counter Russian disinformation and propaganda in the EaP countries, which seek to destabilise societies, undermine trust in democratic institutions and spread false narratives about the European Union and its values – including misleading claims that EU membership would entail the loss of national sovereignty and identity; stresses that it is essential to strengthen collective resilience against the misuse of artificial intelligence for the creation and dissemination of disinformation and fabricated content, as well as to effectively identify, challenge and neutralise manipulative Russian narratives, including those aimed at concealing or justifying crimes;

19.

Stresses that this alarming trend, which has intensified in recent years, undermines regional stability and integrity and may pose significant security risks for the future of the region and for the EU’s neighbourhood as a whole;

20.

Believes that the EU’s security is closely interlinked with the security of its immediate European neighbours; is deeply concerned about and condemns the continuing attempts by Russia to destabilise the EaP countries through the use of foreign information manipulation and interference, cyberattacks, electoral corruption, illicit external financing of political assassinations, threats, electoral interference, and territorial occupation, abuse of religious institutions and instrumentalisation of religion, and online mobilisation and radicalisation designed to derail the European aspirations of EaP countries and undermine their stability; highlights the increasing impact of large-scale disinformation and social media campaigns deliberately designed to divide societies, undermine trust in democratic institutions and destabilise political order; calls for the EU and its partners to further strengthen resilience programmes, media literacy initiatives and strategic communication efforts; calls for stronger military and security cooperation with candidate countries and partners, including in the areas of resilience, cybersecurity, hybrid threats, mitigation, border management, counterterrorism and countering disinformation, and calls for increased assistance for civilian defence; reiterates the need for close cooperation with NATO in this regard; calls for stronger military and security cooperation with Ukraine and continued support for the country’s resistance against Russian aggression, through the continuation of existing programmes and the establishment of new ones, recalling the efforts already undertaken by the EU in support of Ukraine; welcomes the signing of the first Security and Defence Partnership with Moldova in 2024, which could serve as a model for enhanced security cooperation with EaP countries, and the inclusion of Armenia in the European Peace Facility (EPF) in July 2024; fully supports the military and civilian missions of the common security and defence policy in the EaP countries;

21.

Calls on the EaP countries to gradually align their policies with the EU’s common foreign and security policy; calls on the EaP countries to align with the EU’s policy of sanctions against Russia for its war of aggression against Ukraine, while ensuring that they do not become conduits for sanctions evasion; urges the EU Member States to continue strengthening the sanctions regime against Russia and its allies, fully and comprehensively implement the adopted measures and counter sanctions circumvention; calls on the EU Member States and the EaP countries to strengthen the monitoring of companies producing and trading military and dual-use goods that the Russian Federation is using for missiles and drones in its brutal attacks against Ukraine, and to take strong measures against all companies involved;

22.

Calls for the EU and its international partners to take decisive steps towards the confiscation of immobilised Russian sovereign assets, ensuring their use for Ukraine’s reconstruction and recovery as a lawful measure of accountability and reparation under international law; underlines that Russia must bear full financial responsibility for the destruction and damage it has inflicted;

23.

Condemns the Georgian Dream regime’s systemic assault on Georgia’s democratic institutions, political opposition, independent media, civil society, academia and judicial independence; deplores the rigged parliamentary elections of 26 October 2024, which were in violation of democratic norms and standards, and therefore does not recognise the self-proclaimed authority of the Georgian Dream party; strongly denounces the brutal suppression of peaceful protests, the arbitrary detention of ordinary citizens, journalists, activists and political leaders alike, and the systematic violation of fundamental freedoms; urges the Georgian authorities to release all political prisoners and other illegally detained persons without delay; insists, in particular, on the immediate and unconditional release of Sakharov Prize Laureate Mzia Amaglobeli and on the withdrawal of all charges against her; denounces her politically motivated arrest and prosecution; deeply regrets the fact that the ruling Georgian Dream party has abandoned its path towards European integration and NATO membership; notes that the adoption of anti-democratic laws has effectively suspended Georgia’s EU integration process; notes that the Georgian Dream’s intention to ban political parties would effectively establish a one-party dictatorship in Georgia and necessitates immediate action of the international community; calls on the Commission and the Council to review Georgia’s visa-free travel status with the intention of suspending it for targeted groups responsible for Georgia’s authoritarian decline; stresses that Georgian Dream is fully responsible for any consequences stemming from the possible suspension of visa-free travel for Georgian citizens;

24.

Calls on the Commission President, the Vice-President of the Commission / High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, and the President of the European Council to engage in high level diplomacy with leaders of the Member States in order to deliver, without delay, a strong and clear response of the European Union to the unfolding definitive dismantling of democratic order in Georgia; calls for the EU institutions to support independent Georgian media with all possible instruments, including financial, to preserve press freedom and media pluralism in Georgia;

25.

Reiterates its non-recognition of the so-called election of Aliaksandr Lukashenka as President of Belarus on 26 January 2025; considers the current regime in Belarus to be illegitimate, illegal and criminal; reaffirms its unwavering support for the Belarusian people in their pursuit of democracy, freedom and human rights; condemns the continued repression in Belarus; recalls that over 1 250 political prisoners remain imprisoned for politically motivated reasons, including Nobel Peace Prize winner Ales Bialiatski and 37 journalists; recalls, in particular, the case of Andrzej Poczobut, a prominent Polish-Belarusian journalist and long-standing advocate for democratic freedoms, who remains unjustly detained in Belarus as a political prisoner; demands his immediate and unconditional release, along with that of all other political prisoners;

26.

Underlines the important role of European political foundations in EaP countries, which contribute to building resilient and pluralistic societies through political education, support for democracy and dialogue projects; calls for the continued protection of and assistance for European political foundations in the face of increasing repression;

27.

Condemns the increasing persecution of Christians and other religious minorities in parts of the region, notably in Belarus and Russia; underlines the important role of churches and religious communities as key actors in promoting reconciliation, social cohesion and the defence of human dignity; regrets the US administration’s decision to freeze the funds of the US Agency for International Development (USAID), which has had a directly detrimental impact on CSOs, and which threatens media independence and could potentially lead to increased control by oligarchs and foreign propaganda; stresses that CSOs’ critical role in contributing to the design, implementation and assessment of EaP national laws and in supporting democratic reform is at risk; calls for the EU to support EaP civil society by facilitating better access to EU funding;

28.

Welcomes the significant deepening of EU-Armenia relations, including the recent political agreement on the text of the new EU-Armenia Partnership Agenda, Armenia’s recent law on initiating the process of EU accession, the launch of a visa liberalisation dialogue in September 2024, the prolongation of the mandate of the EU Mission in Armenia, and increased EU funding support under the EUR 270 million Resilience and Growth Plan for 2024-2027; acknowledges Armenia’s efforts to promote stability in the South Caucasus;

29.

Calls for the EU to strengthen the independent media and increase its support for journalists in EaP countries; expresses deep concern over the arbitrary detention and harassment of and violence against journalists in Georgia, and the adoption of draconian legislation, such as the Foreign Agents Registration Act; recalls that Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine has severely impacted independent media; calls for the EU to prioritise journalists’ physical and digital safety and to develop independent and transparent financial support systems for independent media to counter disinformation; condemns the Belarusian regime for its anti-extremism laws, which label most independent media as ‘extremist’; welcomes the EU’s support to Belarusian independent media, including through the establishment of the Media Freedom Hub, enabling outlets to continue operations, strengthen digital security and deliver fact-based information to citizens despite censorship and repression; is deeply concerned by the complete lack of press freedom in Azerbaijan, with repression by the authorities intensifying against the very few remaining independent media and journalists; is appalled at the harsh prison sentences handed down in politically motivated cases in Azerbaijan, such as following the crackdown on the Abzas Media news outlet and other critical voices; demands that freedom of the press and freedom of expression be guaranteed and that media organisations not be restricted; urges the Azerbaijani authorities to release all political prisoners and other illegally detained persons without delay; insists, in particular, on Dr Gubad Ibadoghlu’s immediate and unconditional release from house arrest and the withdrawal of all charges against him, and denounces his political persecution; recalls the European Parliament’s position calling on the Commission to suspend the 2022 Memorandum of Understanding on a Strategic Partnership in the Field of Energy between the EU and Azerbaijan; welcomes the EUR 1,5 million envelope to support Armenia’s information ecosystem;

30.

Notes the EU’s new strategic approach to the Black Sea and awaits the announcement of more details; stresses the strategic importance of the Black Sea region for EaP regional cooperation, energy security and defence; calls for the EU to embed the Black Sea strategy within the EaP policy and ensure synergy with the enlargement process.

( 1 )   Council Directive 2001/55/EC of 20 July 2001 on minimum standards for giving temporary protection in the event of a mass influx of displaced persons and on measures promoting a balance of efforts between Member States in receiving such persons and bearing the consequences thereof ( OJ L 212, 7.8.2001, p. 12 , ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/dir/2001/55/oj ).

ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/C/2026/1109/oj

ISSN 1977-091X (electronic edition)