The European Commission presented here on Wednesday a proposal that the EU establish an "Eastern Partnership" with six former Soviet republics to achieve stability and development in its eastern borders and got diversified energy sources, Xinhua reported.
The proposal "represents a step change in the EU's relations" with Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine.
This Partnership foresees free trade, easier travel to the EU for citizens, enhanced energy security arrangements benefiting all concerned, and increased financial assistance, security and defense consultations, and far-reaching economic integration with the 27-nation European Union.
The Commission proposed to triple EU aid to these countries to 1.5 billion euro by 2020.
The proposal said augmenting ties is only possible if there is sufficient progress toward democracy, the rule of law and human rights.
European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso, who jointly held a press conference with Commissioner for External and European Neighborhood Policy Benita Ferroro-Waldner on the matter, said that the EU had a vital interest in seeing better governance and economic development in its eastern borders.
"We need to make an even greater investment in mutual stability and prosperity," he said, "This will be quickly compensated by important political and economic benefits and will lead to more stability and security both for the EU and for our Eastern partners."
One of the EU's objectives to set up such a partnership was to get diversified energy sources in order to be less dependent on Russia, its biggest energy supplier.
"The time is ripe to open a new chapter in relations with our Eastern neighbours," Ferrero-Waldner echoed him.
The idea of the eastern partnership was initiated by Sweden and Poland when France advocated the establishment in July a Mediterranean Union between the EU and Mediterranean nations, including Lybia, Israel and Arab nations.
The proposal came after consultations with the Eastern Partners to engage more deeply bilateral relations with the Eastern Partners and to launch a new multilateral framework for cooperation.
The Commission proposed to launch this initiative in March 2009 at a special "Eastern Partnership Summit".
Barroso ruled out the possibility that these countries would join the EU in the future as Ukraine wishes.