About a hundred members of European Parliament (MEPs) addressed heads of government of EU member states to support the European perspective of Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine at this week's Eastern Partnership (EaP) Summit in Riga, Latvia.
The joint statement signed by 96 MEPs expressed hope that the Riga Summit, which is due to begin on May 21, would voice "unequivocal and determined" solidarity for the three countries and their pro-European agendas.
"In particular we believe that the Riga Summit Declaration should be clear, strong and forward-looking and should concentrate, amongst other things, on further progress and high ambitions of three Associated Partners of the EU – Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine," reads the statement.
The MEPs also noted the EU's commitment to EaP countries had become "more urgent", as Russia had placed enormous military, political, economic and propaganda pressure on Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine over the last three years.
"We believe that the European Union should send a positive signal with regard to these countries' future membership in the European Union. Opening the perspective of such membership would represent a significant incentive to further democratic reforms as well as sending an appropriate and powerful signal in the currently strained geopolitical situation," the statement said.
In addition, the letter stated the EU should set definite deadlines for the completion of the Visa Liberalisation Action Plan (VLAP) of Georgia and Ukraine.
At the end of the letter, the 96 MEPs said they "looked forward" to seeing decisive action during the EaP Summit with a view towards offering visa liberalisation to Georgia and Ukraine and the opening of a European perspective for Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine.
