Bulgarian President, Rosen Plevneliev is going to participate in third summit of the Eastern Partnership, which begins its work in Vilnius Thursday, his press office announced.

The third Eastern Partnership will bring together heads of EU Member States and those of Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine. The summit will be chaired by the President of the European Council, Herman van Rompuy, who, together with the President of the European Commission, Jose Manuel Barroso, will represent the European Union.

The big three from EU - German Chancellor Angela Merkel, British Prime Minister David Cameron and French President Francois Hollande are arriving in Vilnius Thursday. They are expected to act in full unison to counter Russia's attempts to divert ex-Soviet countries from forging closer ties with the EU.

The visit of the Bulgarian President begins with participation in a preparatory meeting for coordination of EU positions. Van Rompuy, Barroso, and Merkel will be in attendance as well, along with other EU heads of State and of government.

The summit will last until Friday, November 29. Plevneliev is to attend the ceremony for the signing of the Association Agreements between the EU and the members of the Eastern Partnership.

During the summit, the EU is expected to sign the framework agreement on Georgia's participation in EU crisis management missions, to initial the Association Agreements, including Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area (DCFTAs) with Georgia and Moldova, to sign a visa facilitation agreement with Azerbaijan and to initial an aviation agreement (Common Aviation Area, CAA) with Ukraine.

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