EU’s Tusk: ‘Riga Summit Not About Announcing Giant Steps’

President of the European Council, Donald Tusk, speaks with journalists on arrival at the Eastern Partnership Summit in Riga, May 21, 2015. Photo: EU audio visual service

EU’s partnership with its Eastern partners will go forward “step-by-step”, European Council President Donald Tusk told journalists on arrival at the Eastern Partnership summit in Riga on Thursday evening.

“The Riga Summit is not about announcing giant steps forward – no; our partnership will go forward step-by-step just like the EU was built; in this context step-by-step means the real progress in trade, energy, mobility, reforms, which is also in the best interests of our partners and the Europe as a whole,” he said.

“I know very well that we are all impatient for change, but we need to exercise our strategic patience,” said Tusk, who was PM of Poland, when the Eastern Partnership was initiated six years ago with strong backing of Poland and Sweden.

“I have come to Riga with three clear messages. The first – the European Union stays the course; despite intimidation, aggression and even the war, the EU is as committed to our Eastern partners as ever. The record presence of 25 out of 28 EU leaders [at the Riga summit] proves this point,” he said.

 “Second – the EU wants to advance our relations with all of our partner in the Eastern Partnership,” he said, adding that the EU will tailor its cooperation with each of the six EaP countries in line with their individual needs and “sovereign choices.”

“Third – we want to help them to help themselves to transform their societies to the benefit of citizens, which also means that they become more resilient to outside pressure,” Tusk said.

Tusk also said that the Eastern Partnership is not directed against Russia.

“The Eastern Partnership is not a beauty contest between Russia and the EU. But let me be frank – the beauty does count if Russia was a bit softer, more attractive; perhaps it would not have to compensate its shortcomings by destructive, aggressive and bullying tactics against its neighbors,” he added.

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