On 8-10 October, Eastern Partnership Civil Society Forum (EaP CSF) took part in a high-level seminar entitled “EaP and the European Security: Enhanced Cooperation to overcome Common Challenges”, organised under Platform 1’s Panel on Security, CSDP – Common Security and Defence Policy and Civil Protection (Panel 3). The seminar, which happened in Vilnius, Lithuania was a joint initiative of the Lithuanian Ministry of National Defence and Lithuanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs – bringing together officials from six EaP countries, EU institutions and member states. Thanks to the partnership with the Eastern Europe Studies Centre (Lithuania), participants also had a chance to listen to security experts from think tanks and academia.

The seminar took place under the framework of 2020 DeliverablesDeliverable 12: Stronger security cooperation. Representing EaP CSF, Nikoloz Legashvili (“Article 42 of the Constitution”, Georgia), discussed the possibility of “enhanced dialogue” between the Associatedtrio“: Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine. There is space for joint action, heard the seminar’s participants – particularly, when it comes to hybrid threats.

There is not only a need for a coordinated government response – but stronger media, political dialogue and legal mechanisms, linked to the protection of human rights. On the last point, Legashivili highlighted successful litigation against the Russian Federation in International Courts and Tribunals. The case of EaP CSF members, Moldovan “Promo-LEX” and their experience, show that it could be done. “This practice could be used in Ukraine and other countries in the region”, concluded Legashvili.