II SÉRIE-D — NÚMERO 13

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26. Calls on the European institutions to increase visibility of the Black Sea region, including by enhancing

connectivity with the Danube region, and by exploiting the potential of other EU macro-regional strategies.

Eastern Partnership:

27. Emphasizes the shared EU’s commitments to the unity, sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Eastern

Partnership countries, peaceful resolution of any disputes and application of international law, democratic

standards and the respect of human rights, the rule of law, and good and transparent governance.

28. Underlines the need to increase the focus on reform agenda in these countries by applying the more for

more principle, implementing the “20 deliverables for 2020”, building incentives and conditionality, streamlining

international assistance, boosting growth and investments.

29. Emphasizes that Russia remains a crucial factor for the security and stability all across Europe, and

beyond. Deplores Russia’s violations of international law and its hybrid warfare and calls on the VP/HR and the

Council to play a more active and effective role in solving protracted and frozen conflicts; stresses the importance

of balance and integrity of five principles for the EU’s relations with Russia, agreed by the Foreign Affairs Council

in March 2016. These guidelines include an effective implementation of the Minsk agreements as a prerequisite

for any substantial change in EU-Russia relations, and serve as a credible deterrence, including against the use

of hybrid warfare. Reiterates its support to the EU’s imposition of restrictive measures against individuals and

entities in Russia in response to the illegal annexation of the Crimean peninsula, and military aggression in

Eastern Ukraine and stresses that these measures will remain in force until Russia returns to following the

principles of international law. Urges paying close attention to the status of human rights, democracy and rule of

law in Russia as well as enhancing support to Russia’s civil society as it faces permanent pressure and

threatening.

Southern Neighbourhood:

30. Notes the necessity to promote a peaceful and prosperous Mena region as a condition for the stability of

the European Union; calls on the EU to give a strong contribution to solve conflicts and promoting development

and human rights in the countries of the south and east shore of the Mediterranean to addressing the threat of

terrorism, the challenges of demography, migration and climate change, and to seizing the opportunity of shared

prosperity.

31. Reaffirms that a secure Mediterranean is a necessary pre-condition for a secure Europe; supports the

efforts of the United Nations to stabilise Libya, urges all parties to commit to a unite country in which all different

components are fairly represented and calls for a wider commitment of the European Union in this respect;

welcomes the achievements of Tunisia in the field of democratic development and calls for an ever-increasing

assistance from the European Union in order to allow the country to continue on this path.

32. Takes note of the position of the European Union on the region of Cyprus and its exclusive economic

zone. Calls for compliance with international law and treaties, the acquis communautaire, the principles upon

which the European Union is founded, as well as the principles of good neighbourliness.

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