The European Union’s Eastern Partnership, Energy Security and U.S.-EU Cooperation

As the nations of Eastern Europe, the Balkans and the South Caucasus seek to strengthen their relationships with the European Union, the EU shares an interest in enhancing security, good governance and free markets on its eastern frontiers. As part of that effort, the EU established the Eastern Partnership with Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine.

On November 2, the Center on United States and Europe and the Energy Security Initiative at Brookings co-hosted a conference on the European Union’s Eastern Partnership with the Embassy of Poland, the Delegation of the European Commission, the Embassy of Sweden and the Heinrich Boll Foundation. The Frontiers of Europe conference discussed the Eastern Partnership’s potential—and the challenges it will face—in achieving its stated goals of promoting democratic values and good governance; strengthening energy security; and fostering stability and economic development. Featured speakers included Swedish Foreign Minister Carl Bildt; Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski; Benita Ferrero-Waldner, European commissioner for external relations and European neighborhood policy; and Richard Morningstar, U.S. special envoy for Eurasian Energy.

After each panel, participants took audience questions.