The EU should not close its borders on neighboring countries, which are trying to practice democratic values and be closer to Europe, Marshal of the Polish Sejm Grzegorz Schetyna said at the conference of the heads of foreign commissions of European Union parliaments and members of the Eastern Partnership in Warsaw on Sept. 5.
An important element of the Eastern Partnership project is to facilitate contacts among the citizens of the EU and countries included in this initiative - Ukraine, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Moldova and Belarus, he added.
The more the process of democratization becomes active in EU neighboring-countries, the more secure its borders will be, Grzegorz was quoted as saying by Ukrinform.
He stressed that Europe should not close its borders to partners which respect human rights and an opening dialogue on the form of government.
Schetyna said the Eastern Partnership will support the transformation of neighboring countries and facilitate contacts between the EU and partner countries. In this context, the decisions to be taken at the Eastern Partnership summit in Warsaw on Sept. 29-30 will have a significant impact on the future of the project, he said.
"It's important to give a political signal for further approximation of EU partner countries. The emphasis of the European ambitions with regard to its eastern neighbors would be a strong impetus for them to intensify reforms," he added.
At the two-day conference of parliamentarians in the 27 EU countries' and Eastern Partnership countries in Warsaw on Monday, participants continued to debate EU policy towards its eastern neighbors. On Tuesday, participants will focus on the situation in North Africa. Oleg Bilorus, the Chairman of the Committee on Foreign Affairs will represent Ukraine at the Warsaw conference.
The EU's Eastern Partnership Program was initiated by Poland and Sweden in 2009. The Program includes Georgia, Azerbaijan, Armenia, Moldova, Ukraine and Belarus. It offers Partner Countries deepening cooperation with the EU in a number of areas, including facilitating the visa regime, enhancing energy cooperation, and opening free trade zones.
Small projects on student exchange, environmental protection, and energy supplies will also be carried out as part of the program.