THE EUROPEAN NEIGHBOURHOOD POLICY (ENP)

The ENP is distinct from the issue of potential membership. It offers a privileged relationship with neighbours, which will build on mutual commitment to common values principally within the fields of the rule of law, good governance, the respect for human rights, including minority rights, the promotion of good neighbourly relations, and the principles of market economy and sustainable development. The level of ambition of the EU’s relationships with its neighbours will take into account the extent to which these values are effectively shared.

The policy, which was first outlined by the Commission in its Communication on Wider Europe of March 2003, demonstrates the high priority that the Union accords to shaping our future relations with our neighbours. Substantially increased financial assistance and a single, dedicated European Neighbourhood and Partnership Instrument will support the implementation of this policy. This instrument will also improve the Union’s capacity to support cross-border cooperation at our external borders.

The Commission presented a Strategy Paper and Country Reports on 12th May 2004. The Strategy paper is an important step in setting out in concrete terms how the Union can work more closely with its neighbours and extend some of the benefits of enlargement. It offers a means for an enhanced and more focussed policy approach of the EU towards its neighbourhood, bringing together the principal instruments at the disposal of the Union and its Member States. It will thus contribute to further advancing and supporting the EU’s foreign policy objectives.

On the basis of the Strategy Paper, the Commission on 9 December 2004 presented a first set of draft Action Plans with partner countries. These Action Plans are key political documents for the further development of our relations. The method applied in the Action Plans is, together with partner countries, to define a set of priorities, whose fulfilment will bring them closer to the European Union. These priorities cover a number of key areas for specific action: political dialogue and reform; trade and measures preparing partners for gradually obtaining a stake in the EU’s Internal Market; justice and home affairs; energy, transport, information society, environment and research and innovation; and social policy and people-to-people contacts. Action Plans with further partner countries, as well as Country Reports, will follow.

KEY ELEMENTS OF THE EUROPEAN NEIGHBOURHOOD POLICY

1.      The Strategy Paper of May 2004 sets out the principles, geographical scope, methodology for implementation of the ENP and issues related to regional cooperation. It also explains how financial support for the implementation of the ENP will be provided and identifies how cooperation will be taken forward in areas such as economic and social development, trade and energy.

The Strategy paper is therefore an important step in setting out in concrete terms how the Union will work with its neighbours to share with them the benefits of enlargement. It offers a means for an enhanced and more focussed policy approach of the EU towards its neighbourhood, bringing together the principal instruments at the disposal of the Union and its Member States.

2.   Draft Action Plans with a first group of ENP partner countries were presented by the Commission on 9 December 2004. These are crucial instruments in the process of bringing our neighbours closer to the Union. Action Plans contain a set of jointly defined key priorities in selected areas. They are tailored to reflect the specific state of relations with each country, its needs and capacities, as well as the interests of the EU and the partner country concerned. Their implementation will be monitored on a regular basis, and the Action Plans adapted accordingly.

3.   As regards financial assistance, a European Neighbourhood and Partnership Instrument (ENPI) will from 2007 onwards replace the current TACIS and MEDA programmes in the ENP partner countries and Russia. Drawing on substantially increased funds, it will support the Neighbourhood Policy and its Action Plans, as well as our strategic partnership with Russia. It will furthermore have a specific and innovative component catering for the needs of cross-border cooperation at the EU’s external borders. Until 2006, the Commission is substantially enhancing the coordination of existing instruments for cross-border cooperation in so-called “Neighbourhood Programmes”.

4.   Country reports cover progress in implementation of bilateral agreements and related reforms. They reflect the political, economic, social and institutional situation in the countries and focus on the priority areas of the European Neighbourhood Policy, providing a starting point for developing joint Action Plans. Seven Country Reports were already published by the Commission last May covering Israel, Jordan, Moldova, Morocco, the Palestinian Authority, Tunisia and Ukraine.

5.   Next steps:

With the respective EU Association Agreements with Egypt and Lebanon now in force, the Commission will integrate these two countries fully into the ENP. The Commission is preparing Country Reports to be presented to the European Council in March 2005. This will help to identify priority areas on which Action Plans with Egypt and Lebanon could focus.

The decision of the June General Affairs and External Relations Council to include Armenia, Georgia and Azerbaijan in the ENP marks an important step forward in the EU’s engagement with the Southern Caucasus region. The decision opens up the perspective of a significantly enhanced partnership. As a first step, the Commission will prepare Country Reports to be presented to the European Council in March 2005. These reports will also provide a basis for a recommendation as to whether and when to prepare Action Plans with these countries.

Source: http://europa.eu.int/comm/world/enp/policy_en.htm