1         Introduction

The European Union (EU) has been strengthening its political and socio-economic relations with Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Republic of Moldova and Ukraine under the European Neighbourhood Instrument (ENI) with the aim of supporting political, economic and social reforms. The Eastern Partnership (EaP) is a joint initiative involving the EU, its Member States and six Eastern European Partners: Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, the Republic of Moldova and Ukraine (also referred to as the region in this Report).  Belarus, Moldova and Ukraine border the European Union on the East, where Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia lie on the Caucasus region between the Black Sea and the Caspian Sea (Figure 1). The EU has association with the three Eastern Partnership countries (Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine) signed in June 2014.