European Union policymakers on Wednesday declared themselves ready to open a “new chapter” in relations with six former Soviet republics but stopped short of offering them a clear path to EU membership.

The European Commission said that under the EU’s “eastern partnership” initiative, the six countries – Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine – would be eligible for comprehensive free trade agreements, EU-funded programmes to improve their administrative capacity, and gradual integration into the EU economy with legally binding commitments on regulation.