European Union (EU) foreign ministers on Monday endorsed the idea of Eastern Partnership -- enhanced relations with former Soviet Republics.

"There has been general consensus that the concept of the Eastern Partnership is viable," Czech Foreign Minister Karel Schwarzenberg told reporters after chairing a meeting of EU foreign ministers.

The European Commission, the executive body of the EU, proposed in December 2008 additional funding of 350 million euros (448 million dollars) to help promote stability in Ukraine, Georgia, Azerbaijan, Armenia and Moldova.

Schwarzenberg, whose country holds the rotating EU presidency, said concluding association agreements, promoting free trade agreements and creating common platforms for issues of mutual interest with these countries is the way forward.

Benita Ferrero-Waldner, EU commissioner for external relations and European neighborhood policy, said it is "clearly imperative" for the EU to step up its efforts in the region after the Georgia-Russia military conflict in August 2008 and the Ukraine-Russia gas dispute in January 2009.

The EU has "crucial interests" in this region's political and economic stability, she told the same press conference.

Ferrero-Waldner said she was confident that the EU member states would approve at a March summit the 350-million-euro funding on top of the 250 million euros (320 million dollars) already allocated.

Schwarzenberg said Turkey and Russia should be allowed to take part in the program on case-by-case basis. But he warned that Belarus would create "a very difficult situation" should its parliament recognizes Georgia's two breakaway regions -- Abkhazia and South Ossetia -- as independents states.

The Eastern Partnership is expected to be formally launched in Prague in May. It is not clear whether Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko will be invited.

(Xinhua News Agency February 24, 2009)