DISINFO: EU's political aim behind the Eastern Partnership Programme is to isolate Russia
SUMMARY
The essence of the EU’s Eastern Partnership programme is to make its non-EU member states follow Brussels’ instructions on domestic policies and to go further away from Russia in their external relations. Closer economic cooperation with the EU for non-EU countries is only possible in exchange for political concessions. The reason behind the EU’s invitations to the Belarusian president, Alyaksandr Lukashenka, to the EaP summits were to have his signature on a joint anti-Russian declaration. Politically, the EU’s aim behind the Eastern Partnership is to isolate Moscow. Therefore, Belarus’ position to develop ties with both the EU and Russia is irrelevant for the EU.
RESPONSE
This message is consistent with pro-Kremlin disinformation narratives about the West's, and in this case, the EU's intention to encircle Russia and the former’s attempts to bring discord in Belarusian-Russian relations. The Eastern Partnership programme aims to reinforce the political association and economic integration of six Eastern European and South Caucasus partner countries: Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine. It is not directed against any country, including Russia. Read more about the EaP's recent and ongoing activities.