The European Union does not want to seize anyone- it depends on countries, to demonstrate themselves and be attractive for the European Union, Director of the Estonian Center of Eastern Partnership and Special Envoy for the Eastern Partnership Gert Antsu said at a news conference held in Tallinn for the media outlets of the Eastern Partnership member countries.

Antsu responded to the question asked by InterPressNews about the prospects for Georgia and the other five Eastern Partnership member states to advance their relations with the European Union and to take further steps towards membership after the 10th anniversary of the Eastern Partnership.

“We see the ball is on our pitch, we often hear the question, what more can the EU do for us? That's a good question, of course, but it depends on you, the countries to show specific results. Sometimes reforms are not sufficiently delivered. The most important thing is the rule of law and independent court in the counties as well as the investment-related issues. This is the only way to make your countries attractive to the EU, especially those countries, which are aspiring to the [EU] membership.

Sometimes they say that there is struggle between the West and Russia to seize these countries - excuse me for being outspoken. However, in reality this is not the true, I mean, the EU does not want to seize anyone. It is up to the countries to present themselves and be attractive to the EU,” Gert Antsu said.

He also spoke about Russia and responded to a journalist's question on how states could counter various attempts by the Russian Federation to expand influence within the former Soviet Union.

“Your reforms and our assistance should make your countries more unbreakable - Russian propaganda is a separate issue, but in the meantime you must be more unbreakable. It is also important that in any country, the public can see that there is the rule of law, less corruption and that the country is really different from Russia in this regard. In other words, some politicians may be pro-Russian, some anti-Russian, but most importantly, the reforms should demonstrate this difference,”Antsu said.