'Good afternoon and many thanks to the organisers of this meeting in Baku. Yesterday we had very friendly and open discussions focused on energy security and energy cooperation. In these discussions there was a strong sense of solidarity between the EU and the Eastern Partners and among the partners themselves.
Today, we looked at the recent political developments and the next steps in our efforts to intensify our ties. All participants confirmed their commitment to work together to advance the Partnership and build a future based on predictability and accountability – important principles for this Partnership.
• Differentiation has always been a key feature of the Eastern Partnership. Its importance will only increase, requiring our approach to be tailored and adapted to correspond to our partners' needs, their ambitions and the realities on the ground.
• Inclusiveness is another key feature of the Eastern Partnership. The EU remains firmly committed to advancing the Eastern Partnership with its six partner countries. Participation of all of them is essential, despite Armenia not being represented here this time.
• All six partners are equally important to the EU – their integrity, sovereignty and independence to decide about their own future, to make their own choices is equally vital and must be respected.
• Also all of us have to bear in mind the importance of the values that underpin the Partnership:
- respect for democracy, rule of law, fundamental rights and freedoms;
- elections must follow international standards and be free and fair;
- independent judicial systems must be in place and corruption tackled.
- civil society must be respected and included in the dialogue with authorities, because this is also an important condition for the sustainability of reforms, development and projects we are jointly advancing.'
