The European Neighbourhood Policy

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The European Neighbourhood Policy
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The situation after enlargement

• As of May 1st 2004, the EU will have 25 members
  which are likely to become 27 as of 2007.
• The EU will share a border with a new countries
  and this creates the need to elaborate a policy
  vis-à-vis our neighbours.

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Three groups of countries

• Candidate Countries (Romania, Bulgaria Turkey,
  Croatia )
• Countries which have a vocation to membership
  (Western Balkans)
• Countries covered by the European Neighbourhood
  Policy (ENP)

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What is the ENP

• It is a policy directed towards the New
  Neighbours of the enlarged Union.
• It is separate and distinct from enlargement
• It covers Russia Ukraine, Belarus and Moldova,
  the Mediterranean countries and, since June 2004,
  Georgia, Armenia and Azerbaijan... but not
  countries with membership perspectives (Western
  Balkans).

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The aims of the ENP

• Sharing benefits enlargement and not creating new
  dividing lines in Europe
• Create a ring of friends, an area of peace,
  stability and prosperity based on shared values
  and common/converging interests

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The contents of the Policy

• This will involve significant economic
  integration and deepening of political
  co-operation.
• It will build on common values and principles
  (Democracy, H.R, Market economy, Sustainable
  development).
• It will build on Common interests and commitment
  to address common challenges (terrorism,
  non-proliferation ).
• It will lead to a more advanced contractual
  framework.

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Past and future steps

• 11 March 2003 - Commission Communication on
  Wider Europe-Neighbourhood
• 1 July 2003 Commission Communication on the New
  Neighbourhood Instrument
• 12 Mai 2004 ENP Strategy paper and Country
  Reports
• July 2004 (tbc) ENP Action Plans with seven
  countries (Ukr, Mol, Isr, Mor, Tun, Jor, Pal
  Authority) are finalised
• September 2004 Commission adopts proposals for
  financial instruments for 2007-2013.

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Action Plans

• Action Plans are the main operational tools of
  the Policy.
• The are political documents, drawn up jointly
  with partner countries.
• They will identify priority measures for
  political and economic reform and enhanced
  co-operation
• Will cover Political dialogue and Economic
  Reform, Market, reforms, Co-operation in Justice
  and Home Affairs, Transport
• Will include short and medium term priorities to
  be met within a given timeframe
• They will guide Aid programming

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An example Free Movement of goods

• Common objective liberalise the movement of
  goods in the harmonised area
• Gain on both sides increased trade, increased
  business for testing and certification
• Pre-conditions Aligned legislation on standards,
  effective administrative bodies in place

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Financial and technical instrument for the ENP

• Such an ambitious policy must be adequately
  supported. COM for the next financial perspective
  proposes a budget increase.
• Specific technical instruments will be used
  Twinning, Taiex. Participation in Community
  programmes is being considered.
• Current assistance programmes under MEDA and
  TACIS revised to support AP implementation.
• A specific programmes designed to enhance Cross
  border co-operation at the external EU border
  (Neighbourhood Programmes)

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A New Dedicated instrument after 2007

• From 2007 onwards a new financial instrument
  The European Neighbourhood Instrument will be
  created
• It will cover (almost) all assistance to ENP
  countries and replace MEDA and Tacis
• It will have a strong CBC component supporting
  support cross-border and trans-national
  co-operation among the EU and its neighbours

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EIB lending

• EIB lending mandate recently revised with extra
  funds been made available for the Med under the
  General mandate (over 2 B).
• A special mandate established to cover Russia,
  Ukraine, Belarus and Moldova without thematic
  limitation. (500 M)
• In the negotiations for new generations of
  mandate ENP element will be considered

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Conclusion

• The ENP is a policy responding to a long term EU
  interest
• ENP has been retained as one of the priorities
  retained for the next financial perspective
• A new framework for the relations with our
  neighbours is being established
• It is envisaged that considerable financial and
  technical support will be mobilised to implement
  the policy.

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THE ENP WEB site

• http//europa.eu.int/comm/world/
• enp/index_en.htm