EU: The EU will consider by June whether to include Georgia, Armenia and Azerbaijan in a group of countries with which it is stepping up ties as the bloc expands, the Foreign Minister, Mr Cowen, said yesterday.
The European Union has turned its attention to the region, especially the former Soviet republic of Georgia after a peaceful revolution led by new President Mikhail Saakashvili ousted veteran leader Mr Eduard Shevardnadze. Mr Cowen attended Mr Saakashvili's inauguration on Sunday. EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana also visited Tbilisi recently.
"The Union will keep the situation in Georgia under close review. We will be watching in particular for progress on tackling corruption, economic reform and strengthening the rule of law," Mr Cowen told a news conference.
He said the EU's executive Commission and Mr Solana's office would recommend by the end of June whether to include the three countries to the EU's "Wider Europe" policy.
The Wider Europe scheme would progressively offer members some benefits of EU membership such as the full freedom of movement for people, services, goods and capital - if they adopt EU rules, regulations and values.
It was designed to boost trade, aid and political dialogue with a number of countries such as Russia and Ukraine which will be on the bloc's doorstep when it expands on May 1st to take in 10 new member states, most in central and eastern Europe.