The Political Assembly of the European People's Party has adopted the resolution, in which it calls on Russia to stop its pressure on the Eastern Partnership countries and stresses the EU's responsibility to defend its partner countries.
The resolution dubbed "On Russian pressure exerted on the Eastern Partnership countries" was adopted at the party's political assembly in Brussels on Thursday.
The resolution says that the EU's Eastern Partnership project has been under threat since Russia continues to escalate the pressure it exerts on neighboring countries.
The EPP said that specifically Russia launched trade disputes with Ukraine and Moldova and threatened the national interests of Armenia, which has forced Armenia into the Eurasian Customs Union. "Moreover, this activity is accompanied by a massive information campaign by Russia aimed at discrediting the benefits of the EU Association Agreement as well as targeting key proponents of EU integration," the European People's Party said.
The political force said that the Russian leadership uses the Eurasian Union as an instrument to prevent neighboring countries from enhancing their integration with Europe in order to maintain them as Russian satellite states. "Successive EU enlargements have brought Eastern Partnership countries closer to the EU and their security, stability and prosperity increasingly impact upon the EU. The European People's Party is convinced that this unacceptable behavior by Russia will have a negative impact on EU-Russia relations," the resolution says.
Therefore, the European Peoples Party urges the Russian Federation to stop using manipulation and blackmail and to apply the principle of sovereign equality, non-intervention in internal affairs and good cooperation between states.
The EPP also condemns the pressure brought to bear by Russia on the Armenian government and regrets the decision of Armenian President to join the Eurasian Customs Union, which undermines the achievements of Armenia towards the EU.
Meanwhile, the party expresses strong support to Ukraine and Moldova, who despite the pressure continue the implementation of the European integration agenda.
The EPP also calls on the President of Ukraine to implement the respective criteria which will enable the EU to sign the Association Agreement with Ukraine at Vilnius Eastern Partnership Summit in November.
The political force also expressed the concern at the statement of Georgian Prime Minister regarding the ambiguous position towards the Customs Union and encourages Georgia to continue its policy towards European integration.
At the same time, the EPP underlines the EU's responsibility to act and defend Eastern Partnership countries. "Both the European Commission and the European External Action Service have to take stronger positions. The inability of the EU to adequately react to the behavior of Russia could trigger a further acceleration of Russian pressure against Eastern Partnership partners, with negative implications for the future development of the Eastern Partnership," the resolution reads.
The party also stresses that the membership in the Eurasian Customs Union is incompatible with concluding the Association Agreement, including the Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area Agreements.
