European Union reviews its neighborhood policy

The EU announced about the start of consultations aimed at examining the format of the European Neighbourhood Policy (ENP).

The official review of the ENP started on March 4. This period will be lasting up to the end of June, after which – in autumn – European Commission (EC) will prepare and represent its suggestions for reviewing ENP.

The aim is to consult as widely as possible both with partners in the neighbouring countries and with stakeholders across the EU until the end of June, the press service of the EC informs. After this consultation, a Communication setting out proposals for the future direction of the ENP will follow in the autumn.

The consultation will follow four priorities: differentiation; focus; flexibility; ownership & visibility. Five areas where both sides share common interests have already been identified: trade and economic development; connectivity; security; governance; migration and mobility.

“The EU has a vital interest in building strong partnerships with its neighbours. Recent developments in the region have increased the challenges we all face: from economic pressures to irregular migration and security threats. We need a strong policy to be able to tackle these issues,” said the High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice-President of the European Commission Federica Mogherini.

“We also need to understand better the different aspirations, values and interests of our partners. This is what the review is about if we are to have a robust political relationship between our neighbours and us”, - she said.

The ENP was designed in 2003 to develop closer relations between the EU and its neighbouring countries. It covers to the South: Algeria, Egypt, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Libya, Morocco, Palestine, Syria and Tunisia; to the East: Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine. Eastern Partnership that regulates EU-Ukraine relations is also a part of the ENP.

The objective of the ENP, revised in 2011 following the events in the Arab world, is to support partners who undertake reforms towards democracy, rule of law and human rights; to contribute to their inclusive economic development and to promote a partnership with societies alongside the relations with governments. The renewed ENP is strengthening cooperation in the political and security spheres, to support economic and social development, creation of growth and jobs, boosting trade and enhance cooperation in other sectors.