President Dalia Grybauskaitė signed the agreements on behalf of Lithuania. Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko, Moldovan Prime Minister Iurie Leancă and Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili represented their respective countries at the signing ceremony. President Poroshenko signed the agreement with a pen presented to him by President Grybauskaitė and specially made for the Vilnius Summit held in November.
"At this moment in time, when the Eastern Partners are under strong pressure and have to resist aggression and when the whole region faces a direct security threat, Ukraine, Moldova and Georgia have chosen a European future. It is a very important step which will advance progress in these countries and open new opportunities to create a better and more secure life for their people," the President said.
According to Dalia Grybauskaitė, it is crucially important to implement the provisions of the Association Agreements as soon as possible - to carry out reforms, fight corruption, put free market principles into real action, reinforce the rule of law, and develop democracy. Lithuania and the entire EU, the President said, strongly support the aspirations of Ukraine, Moldova and Georgia, and stand ready to provide all necessary assistance.
The Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Agreement, a fundamental part of the Association Agreement, will promote EU trade with its Eastern partners, encourage their economic and business relations, reduce customs duties and improve the protection of investments.
As unrest in Ukraine continues, the European Council will adopt conclusions on the situation in this European country expressing once again strong condemnation of the annexation of Crimea and stating staunch support for President Poroshenko's peace plan.
