Baku / 02.26.19 / Turan: Ukraine and Georgia are leaders among the six Eastern Partnership countries for democratic reforms and European integration. This follows from the Eastern Partnership Index 2017, presented on Tuesday, February 26, by the Eastern Partnership Civil Society Forum in Brussels, the DW correspondent reports.
"Unfortunately, we cannot say that reforms are progressing well, if we are talking in general about the six countries of the Eastern Partnership ... But there is reason for optimism, and there are a number of success stories," Anastasia Ismailova from the Permanent Mission noted Lithuania at the EU, where the index results were presented. In particular, it is indicated that Belarus and Azerbaijan have the worst indicators in terms of democracy. While Ukraine and Moldova are lagging behind in the business climate.
The index covers two criteria. The first one - rapprochement with the EU - reflects how each of the countries adopts EU norms and international standards. The leader here is Ukraine (index 0.73). It is followed by Armenia (0.66), Moldova (0.65), Georgia (0.64), Azerbaijan (0.56) and Belarus (0.52).
This criterion demonstrates how the level of democracy in those other countries meets international European standards, how EU standards are implemented and how countries achieve sustainable development goals.
By the first two indicators, Ukraine is also a leader; but in sustainable development Azerbaijan ranks the first.
The second criterion shows how closely each of the countries is connected with the EU. We are talking about relations between governments, in the economy and among citizens. Here in the first place is Georgia and Moldova - an index of 0.71. They are followed by Ukraine (0.66), Armenia (0.50), Azerbaijan (0.47) and Belarus (0.45).
The forum, which brings together civil society organizations from the countries of the Eastern Partnership program and from the EU member states, has published this index annually since 2011.
The Eastern Partnership program was launched by the European Union in 2009 for six countries of Eastern Europe actively cooperating with Brussels. -0-
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