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cooperation that leads to 'Union

Brussels proposes all EU countries to grant visa free entry to Ukraine, Belarus and other Eastern European neighbors in the perspective of future integration.

The free visas is one of the points contained in the package to East Cooperation, drafted by the European Commission at the end of November.

East Cooperation, a project conceived by the Polish Government and Swedish and approved last July by the EU, wants to be a means to bring Europe Ukraine, Moldova, Georgia, Armenia, Adzerbajdzan and possibly Belarus.

In recent months, the European Commission has launched a package of measures that all countries included in the project approach to 'Union must ratify in order to then sign a cooperation agreement, the first step towards EU membership.

However, in the Commission expressly stated that "the opening up of cooperation agreements do not automatically lead to candidate status for EU member," recognizing also the intention to Brussels to "take into account the European aspirations of these States ".

- When we can not promise entry into Europe in any of our eastern neighbor. Orientale cooperation policy has not yet obtained the agreement of all 27 members - said Benita Ferrero-Waldner, Commissioner for Foreign Relations. - However - he added - the work on the project are not yet complete.

In the package, Brussels requires signatory countries to open markets with the Union and the killing of any customs duty. Moreover, 'EU agrees to reduce costs and simplify procedures for issuing entry visas. Moldavia and Ukraine have already signed an agreement with regard to the Commission.

The document provides its extension also to Belarus and, later, in Georgia, Armenia and Adzerbajdžan. Today the cost of entry visa amounts to 60 euro: Commission proposes to lower it to 35.

This package also has the task of strengthening the cooperation of the signatory countries with the EU in various fields, from energy security to border control, to the environmental policies.

Although Brussels does not provide for the establishment of new institutions, suggests that the EU foreign ministers should meet with those of countries cooperating at least once a year according to the formula of 27 +5 (6 if the agreement will be signed by Belarus) .

In June 2009 there is a vertex EU cooperation with its unique, mostly Eastern Europe. It is unclear if it will be invited representatives of Belarus. "Everything depends on the development of relations with President Lukashenka Aljaksandar" reports laconically document. In preparing the package

Brussels has also stressed the need for increased investments in the development of the Eastern Cooperation, suggesting for the 2014-2020 EU budget increased spending by 1.5 billion euro.

The package must be accepted by all members of the Commission in December, after which it will be the time for each member. Some, like Germany, are reluctant to increased investment in the project.

Matthew Cazzulani - President of the Association Annaviva