The applied aim of the project was a creation of the multilateral research group – Scientific Consortium – among 4 Jean Monnet Chairs from 4 different countries. The accent was given to the multilateral and variegated content of the group. The universities included in to the research group represented the two variants of the Member States and one partnership country which offers the variety of views and mutual influence among them during the implementation of the project. Germany as the old – founding – Member State with the longest membership tradition and experience was represented by the University of Heidelberg. Czech Republic and Slovakia as relatively new Member State which in comparison with the Germany possess the association experience were represented by Universities from Olomouc and Bratislava. Ukraine as partnership state which faces the actual association process was represented by the University from Kiev. Inclusion of these four entities led to the formation of an integrated academic network, which enabled the seamless operation of the project and preparation of all outcomes including the publication with scientific added value. The content of the research group and personal capacities of the project team served as the perfect basis for the deep research and influencing outcomes. Participation of 3 young researchers next to the experienced scholars gives the guaranty of the continuation of the research even after the termination of the main project. The Multilateral Research Group put together the researchers who are specialised in various fields of EU law and different branches of the national law of Member and Partnership state as well as in other relative scientific branches (political sciences, international relations), which enabled project to reach the multidisciplinary synergies in the field of the European integration studies. Diversity of the approaches guaranteed the complexity and objectivity of the results.

The research objective of the project was to give the deep and interdisciplinary analysis of the present status and future development of the Eastern Partnership with the special impetus to its historical roots, political rationale, legal basis and practical application. The process of implementation of the European neighbourhood policy and of Eastern Partnership Agreements belongs to priorities of the EU foreign policy. The Project focused on the most important dimension of the envisaged process, concretely on the extending of the European integration eastwards. The he main attention was given to the examination of the level of the strengthening of the democracy, approximation in legal field, good governance and the protection of human rights in the neighbouring countries. The realisation of the project enabled the creation of the scientific conclusions on the related issues, the formulation of the appropriate strategies for the EU in the field of the negotiation and implementation of the new generation of the Association Agreements and to do the recommendations concerning the improvement of the preparedness of the Partnership countries in this respect.

See also the interview with the main coordinator of the project prof. Šišková here