Cooperation between the EU and EaP States 10 Years Later: What Lies Ahead?: Page 6 of 7

one’s own problems. Accordingly, the value of the EaP countries for the EU and the prospects for further rapprochement will be determined by what they have to offer. For example, Ukraine is definitely of interest from the point of view of security, which for the EU is increasingly turning a matter that requires independent solutions. This does not mean, of course, that the country's attractiveness will be limited to the security aspect only. Azerbaijan remains important for ensuring the EU’s energy security, which, however, can – as in the past – prevent rather than contribute to convergence in other areas. Armenia’s chance to succeed is that the EU is aware of the threats to the values it is built on. And Armenia’s potential as a country that not only imports, but can also export values as a resource, will not go unnoticed. The recognition of such opportunities is, of course, much more difficult as compared to the recognition of opportunities pertaining to the fields of economy, energy or security...

Hennadyi Maksak –There are several processes that affect the EaP policy.

1. The internal transformations of the EU itself, refinement of the transformation of foreign policy instruments and the decision-making process.

2. Russia's further position in its relations with EU member states and the countries of the EaP region.

3. Well, and, of course, the transformations taking place in each of the partner countries.

Alas, non-predictability is inherent in each of the above-mentioned directions and can potentially modify the format of the EaP.

Arif Mammadov - ... The EU needs to figure out where it is heading. The victory of Eurosceptics in the last European elections, the disagreements among EU countries, the complete failure of migration policy and the policies pursued in the relations with Russia, as well as the decrease in US’s interest in the EU, the former’s actual support for Brexit, Viktor Orban's migration policy, and so on make the future of both the EU and its EaP policies quite blurry.

Ivlian Haindrava – ... The situation is so blurry, foggy, ambiguous, that I simply cannot predict anything. I involuntarily recall how three years ago I fell asleep with Britain as part of the EU and woke up with Brexit. Boris (Navasardyan – Editor) very accurately noticed "the dominance of purely bureaucratic approaches in the offices of European structures." I will go even further and say that the European mainstream has begun to produce bureaucrats instead of politicians too prematurely. How long will it take my colleagues in this discussion to recall the lasting effect caused by Juncker’s predecessor? And remembering the name, what accomplishments of Van Rompuy will come to mind? How many days will we remember Mogherini after her term in office is over? As much as Ashton is remembered, right? And where will Europe go with such leaders? Leaders that are not selected due to brightness, creativity, vision, potential, but are selected according to a combination of geographical, gender, gastronomic, graphological and other factors that start with the letter "g"?

Difficult years are lying ahead of us all