Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine.
These are the 6 ex-Soviet countries hoping to get their European aspirations matched in the so-called Eastern Partnership summit this week in Warsaw.
Europe's single market and visa liberalisation is what they are after.
In exchange, Europe wants to see democratic reforms in countries that have traditionally struggled with establishing democracy and the rule of law. Europe also wants good relations with the eastern neighbors in order to help ensure energy security.
But this weekâs no-show of French and British leaders in Warsaw points at the lukewarm interest of European politicians in their eastern neighbors.
You can also ask if the former Soviet republics really want to get closer to Europe? Ukraine, which was close to signing a trade agreement, recently hurt its relations with Europe by jailing opposition leader Yulia Tymoshenko, whose trial has been described by the Union as "politically motivated".
The situation in Belarus remains bad. ...
