Download - The European Neighbourhood Policy
The European Neighbourhood Policy
2006 Euro-Mediterranean Summit of
Economic and Social Councils and Similar Institutions
Ljubljana, 16 November 2006
Andreas Herdina European Commission
The EU’s political geography- Policies towards non-EU-members -
EFTA / EEA – multi- and bilateral accords
Candidate Countries (Bulgaria, Romania, Turkey, Croatia, Macedonia) - the Accession Process
“Potential candidates” (Albania, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Serbia, Montenegro) – the Stabilisation and Association Process
Neighbours – the European Neighbourhood Policy
The EU and its neighbours
ENP partners
The immediate neighbours of the enlarged EU … but not candidate countries or “potential candidates”
Ukraine, Moldova, Belarus
Georgia, Armenia, Azerbaijan
Syria, Lebanon, Israel, Palestinian Authority, Jordan,Egypt, Libya, Tunisia, Algeria, Morocco
Strategic Partnership with the Russian Federation
Russian Federation
Not included in the European Neighbourhood Policy. Instead, a Strategic Partnership based on 4 “common spaces”:
economic (incl. environment and energy) - promote integration via market opening, regulatory convergence, trade facilitation, infrastructure
freedom, security and justice – JHA, human rights and fundamental freedoms
external security - partnership on security issues and crisis management
research and education (incl. cultural) - capitalise on strong intellectual and cultural heritage
“Road maps” agreed in May 2005
Aims and principles
Partnership-for-reform: supports reform and modernisation (inter alia by projecting internal EU policies) as a contribution to prosperity, stability, and security (aim: “ring of well-governed countries”)
Responds to countries’ situation (differentiation)
Joint ownership (agreed priorities)
FundamentalsGood governance, based on:
Democracy, human rights, rule of law
Sound macro-economic management, market economy and sustainable development
Sectoral reforms, institutional capacity
Joint response to common challenges e.g. prosperity gaps, migration, crime, environment, public health, terrorism ...
Fundamentals
A comprehensive policy – across three pillars (Community and Union competencies); support of all EU Institutions
Distinct from EU enlargement (does not prejudge in either way)
Rewards progress (positive and inherent conditionality)
Convergence of EU Member States’ orientation towards a common neighbourhood (policy of EU-25)
Civil society / academia taking keen interest in ENP
Development of the ENP
2002/3: Thinking “beyond” EU enlargement:“Wider Europe”, “new neighbourhood”, “ring of friends”European Council, December 2002: East & South
2003/4: Various Commission Communications and (European) Council Conclusions establish ENP as an EU policy
2004: “ENP Strategy Paper“ (May 2004)First 7 Country Reports; first Action Plan consultations
2005:
2006:
First 7 ENP Action Plans; implementation starts; 5 more Country Reports
Next 5 ENP Action Plans; Progress Reports (29 November 2006)
Content of the policy
Focus and direction: A comprehensive agenda for relations with EU neighbours
Aim: good governance and institutional reform
Offer: progressive economic integration, deepening political co-operation
Based on: values and common interests
Assistance for: agreed reform objectives, economic and social development and cross-border cooperation
Method
Adds a detailed agenda and accountability for progress on both sides; promoting and monitoring implementation; Progress Reports
Selective use of experience from supporting reform in candidate and pre-candidate countries, “twinning” and TAIEX…
Gradual approximation with the acquis communautaire in selected relevant areas
“Socialisation” model: European “soft power”; policy for the long haul
ENP Action Plans
Key operational instruments
Country-specific, tailor-made political documents
Jointly defining agenda on political and economic reforms
Short & medium-term priorities (3 – 5 years horizon)
Guidance for assistance programming
ENP Action Plans – main areas
Same six chapters in all Action Plans, content is specific to each
country:
1) Political dialogue and reform
2) Sound macro-economic management, economic and social cooperation and development
3) Trade related issues, market and regulatory reform
4) Co-operation in Justice, Freedom and Security
5) Sector-policies: Transport, energy, information society, environment, research and development
6) Human dimension: People-to-people contacts, civil society, education, public health
Building on existing framework
ENP builds on:
existing legal and institutional agreements (Partnership and Co-operation Agreements, Association Agreements established under the Euro-Mediterranean Partnership)
established bodies (Association and Co-operation
Councils, Committees, sub-Committees) as mechanisms for
promoting and monitoring implementation of Action Plans
“ Tracks exist, 3-5 year schedule is new “
ENP and Euro-Med Same general objectives; ENP complements the Euro-
Mediterranean Partnership (EMP) which continues as the multilateral element of EU relations with Southern Mediterranean neighbours
ENP: additional bilateral commitments and accountability, incentives and opportunities
Two tracks: multi-lateral (EMP) – bilateral (ENP)
Differentiated tools and methods (precise reform goals and steps, regulatory harmonisation) Example: Barcelona envisages trade integration, focusing on tariff issues, ENP has a “beyond-the-border” angle on economic integration (inclusion in networks and markets, regulatory alignment etc.)
ENP helps to realise the full potential of the EMP
Role of Civil Society
Meetings with civil society groups in the course of ENP Action Plan preparations
Actual ENP Action Plan consultations between officials (EU – partner Government)
Contact with civil society for feedback (particularly on human rights, business climate, consumer and environmental rights etc.) to promote and monitor implementation of the ENP Action Plans
Information material available (Commission website, brochures, etc.)
EC financial support2000 - 2006:
€8.4bn (MEDA €5,3bn, TACIS €3,1bn)
EIB lending (€2bn Mediterranean, €500m Eastern Europe)
2007-2013:
- European Neighbourhood & Partnership Instrument (ENPI) – Regulation (EC) No 1638/2006 of 24 October 2006, O.J. No
L 310 of 9 November 2006
More flexible, policy-driven instrument Supporting priorities agreed in the ENP Action Plans simplified approach for cross-border co-operation Technical assistance for institutional capacity-building Budget: €11.97 bn ( ~ 45% increase over previous FP) Grant money to leverage EIB and other IFI lending World Bank gives ENP Action Plans consideration
Summary: Added value of ENP
Focuses an immediate neighbourhood; special category of external relations
Increased scope and intensity of relations – comprises all policy fields (all pillars); “beyond border” partnership more than classical external relations
Encouragement of reforms and development (political, economic, social, institutional)
New forms of financial and technical assistance (addition of TAIEX, twinning, budgetary support to sector-specific reforms, etc.)
Conclusions
External relations’ priority of the Commission; part of the portfolio of Commissioner Ferrero-Waldner
An ambitions and enhanced political framework for EU relations with neighbouring countries
Of mutual, long-term interest; no alternative to ENP: non-engagement in neighbourhood not an option
Commission Communication of 29 November 2006 on “strengthening the ENP”
ENP Website
Dedicated web site on Europa server under “Commission – Europe
in the World”:
http://ec.europa.eu/comm/world/enp