The European Neighbourhood Policy

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The European Neighbourhood Policy

• March 2005
• Alexis Loeber

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Enlargement is changing the European neighbourhood

• EUs 5th Enlargement (2004 / 2007) is changing
  political geography of Europe
• EU 25 now has 450 Mio citizens
• EU gains new borders
• New opportunities new challenges
• Need for greater engagement with neighbours East
  South

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European Neighbourhood Policy

• Principles
• ENP is not about enlargement
• ENP opens doors it does not close any
• ENP does not replace contractual framework it
  builds on the existing PCA

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What is ENP?

• A specific policy for the new neighbours of the
  enlarged EU
• ENP addresses neighbours in the East, the
  Mediterranean, and the Southern Caucasus
• but not countries with an accession perspective
  (Romania, Bulgaria, Turkey, Croatia )

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The EU and its partners
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ENP partner countries

• Ukraine, Moldova, Belarus
• Russian Federation Strategic Partnership
  through the creation of four common spaces
• Georgia, Armenia, Azerbaijan
• Syria, Lebanon, Israel, Palestinian Authority,
  Jordan, Egypt, Libya, Tunisia, Algeria, Morocco

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European Neighbourhood Policy
Vision Ring of friends, sharing the EU's
fundamental values and objectives, drawn into an
increasingly close relationship, going beyond
co-operation to involve a significant measure of
economic and political integration
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European Neighbourhood Policy

• Mutual commitment to common values
• Rule of law
• Good governance
• Respect for human rights
• The promotion of good neighbourly relations
• Principles of market economy
• Sustainable development

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European Neighbourhood Policy

• Method
• Reinvigorate existing relations
• Selectively use experience from the enlargement
  process
• Gradual alignment with acquis

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European Neighbourhood Policy

• In June 2004, Armenia (with Azerbaijan and
  Georgia) included in the ENP
• Commission was invited to report on progress
  made. Result
• Country Report, presenting
• Progress under the existing Partnership and
  Co-operation Agreement
• Development democracy, the rule of law, human
  rights
• Regional stability and co-operation in justice
  and home affairs
• Economic and social reforms
• Further liberalisation of trade
• Gradual participation in the Internal Market

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European Neighbourhood Policy

• Based on Country Report for Armenia
• European Commission recommends intensification
  of relations
• Development of an Action Plan
• ENP goes beyond Partnership and Co operation
  Agreement
• Significant degree of economic integration
• Deepening of political cooperation
• It is now for the Council of Ministers to decide

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European Neighbourhood Policy

• Action Plans
• Key operational instrument
• Country-specific, tailor-made political documents
• Jointly defined priorities for political and
  economic reforms
• Short medium term priorities
• Guidance for assistance programming

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European Neighbourhood Policy

• Armenia Commission recommends Action Plan which
  should include
• Strengthening the rule of law, of democratic
  structures and pluralism
• Strengthening respect for human rights and
  fundamental freedoms
• Improvements in the business climate as well as
  public sector modernisation
• Further efforts to tackle corruption and fraud
• Reform of tax and customs administrations and
  legislation
• Progress in poverty reduction
• Progress on sustainable development and
  environmental protection
• The decommissioning of the Medzamor Nuclear Power
  Plant
• Progress towards conflict resolution and
  enhanced regional cooperation.
• It is for the Council of Ministers to decide

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Neighbourhood and Partnership Instrument

• Objectives
• progressive economic integration and deeper
  political cooperation
• address opportunities and challenges of EU /
  neighbour proximity

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Neighbourhood and Partnership Instrument

• 2000-2006 TACIS 3,1bn
• 2007-2013  European Neighbourhood Partnership
  Instrument (ENPI) - policy-driven instrument
  covering (all) assistance to partners with
  simplified approach for cross-border
  co-operation, 14,93bn

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European Neighbourhood Policy

• Conclusions
• ENP is ambitious offer for new political
  framework for relations with neighbours
• ENP is of mutual, long-term interest
• ENP is an EU priority
• EU offers considerable financial and technical
  assistance

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ENP More information

• Dedicated web site on Europa server under
  Commission International Affairs
• http//europa.eu.int/comm/world/enp/index_en.htm