Last Thursday, at the European Parliament, the 10th edition of the Eastern Partnership Index was officially launched!
This comprehensive report tracks reform progress—and setbacks—across Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Moldova, and Ukraine between July 2023 and March 2025.
The Index evaluates:
Democracy and rule of law
Good governance
EU policy alignment
Progress on Sustainable Development Goals
With input from 60+ independent local experts, it offers in-depth insights and practical policy recommendations for the EU, EaP governments, and civil society.
Selected findings from the 2025 edition:
- The EU enlargement dynamic: Despite numerous external and internal pressures, Moldova and Ukraine – the top performers in the Index – have made progress in several thematic areas of the Index, including state accountability, independent media, market economy, environment, and transport policies. However, continued efforts are needed to close the remaining gaps, especially in the independence of the judiciary, human rights and protection mechanisms, democratic rights, elections and pluralism, fight against corruption – key areas for the EU’s accession agenda.
- Georgia’s democratic decline: While Georgia’s overall score remains the same as in 2023, sharp declines in democratic rights, elections and pluralism, state accountability, independent media, freedoms of opinion, expression, assembly and association, independence of the judiciary, fight against corruption underscore a significant departure from EU norms. The country has now moved to the 4th place in the EaP Index. Nonetheless, Georgian civil society and citizens remain strongly pro-European and continue to champion democratic values.
- Ukraine’s progress amid Russia’s war: Despite the ongoing full-scale war, Ukraine has increased its overall Index score and is in the second position, after Moldova. Improvements across several thematic areas of the Index demonstrate the resilience of Ukrainian society and a government-wide commitment to EU integration and democratic values, even under Martial Law. At the same time, institutional and governance reforms remain critical areas that require sustained attention.
- Armenia’s rise to third place in the Index, behind Moldova and Ukraine, marks a significant move toward EU alignment. Although challenges remain, the country’s progress reflects growing promise and is supported by the strong democratic commitment of its civil society.
- Authoritarianism persists: Azerbaijan and Belarus continue to be the worst performers in the EaP Index, with a dire human rights situation. Both countries maintain the imprisonment of political prisoners and have escalated the persecution of journalists and civil society. Since the 2023 edition, there has been little to no improvement; in fact, conditions have either stagnated or deteriorated further.
- Connectivity advances: Most EaP countries have improved their physical connectivity with the EU and for some of them with their neighbours too. This includes more joint border operations, upgraded transport links, and harmonised customs and border systems in line with EU standards. Though much more needs to be done, progress in this area bodes well for trade and people to people contacts.
- Trade versus business environment: While trade volumes with the EU remain robust, structural weaknesses persist. EaP countries continue to struggle with shadow economies, poor labour protections, and limited business reforms, all of which hamper sustainable growth, labour market development and tax revenue potential.
Read more hier.
