Neighbourhood Policy Reform: EU’s Objective is to Support Democracy in Neighbouring Countries

On May 25^th the European Commission tabled proposals on the review of the European Neighbourhood Policy (ENP).

Commission’s Communication “A new response to a changing Neighbourhood” outlines key priorities of the review of EU’s relations with the ENP countries.

“What we are launching today is a new approach”, said Catherine Ashton, EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, and Commission Vice-President. "With so much of our Neighbourhood in a process of democratic change, this review is more important than ever”, she added.

Štefan Füle, EU Commissioner for Enlargement and Neighbourhood Policy, stressed that the “new approach involves a much higher level of differentiation; this will ensure that each partner country develops its links with the EU as far as its own aspirations, needs and capacities allow”.

The review provides for increase of the budget of the ENP; the Communication says that the EU will “provide additional resources of over EUR 1 billion until already allocated for the period 2011-2013".

However, this “increased EU support” will be “conditional”, the Communication says. “It will depend on progress in building and consolidating democracy and respect for the rule of law. The more and the faster a country progresses in its internal reforms, the more support it will get from the EU”.

Commission adds that it will “take the reform track record of partners during the 2010-12 period (based on the annual progress reports) into account when deciding on country financial allocations for 2014 and beyond”. “For countries where reform has not taken place, the EU will reconsider or even reduce funding”, it stressed.

Besides, “the Commission is currently reflecting on how best to integrate the overall country situation regarding democracy, accountability, the rule of law and sound financial management into its decisions on budget support arrangements”.

The EU will also “uphold its policy of curtailing relations with governments engaged in violations of human rights and democracy standards, including by making use of targeted sanctions and other policy measures”.

The primary aim of the reviewed ENP is to “support progress towards deep democracy”. The Commission admits that “there is no set model or a ready-made recipe for political reform”. However, “several elements are common to building deep and sustainable democracy and require a strong and lasting commitment on the part of governments”. They include a) free and fair elections; b) freedom of association, expression and assembly and a free press and media; c) the rule of law administered by an independent judiciary and right to a fair trial; d) fighting against corruption; e) security and law enforcement sector reform (including the police) and the establishment of democratic control over armed and security forces.

Another priority consists in enhancing “partnership with societies”. The Commission intends to “establish partnerships in each neighbouring country and make EU support more accessible to civil society organisations through a dedicated Civil Society Facility; support the establishment of a European Endowment for Democracy to help political parties, non-registered NGOs and trade unions and other social partners; promote media freedom by supporting civil society organisations' (CSOs') unhindered access to the internet and the use of electronic communications technologies; reinforce human rights dialogues”.

• In the field of economic and social development the Commission wants to support partner countries' adoption of policies conducive to stronger, sustainable and more inclusive growth, to the development of micro, small and medium-sized companies and to job creation. It will also promote establishment of the free and comprehensive free trade areas, help tackle economic disparities between regions, launch pilot programmes to support agricultural and rural development.

The Communication also stressed the need to strengthen both (Southern and Eastern) vectors of the ENP. In the frameworks of the strengthening the Eastern Partnership, the Commission seeks to “move to conclude and implement Association Agreements including DCFTAs, pursue democratization, pursue the visa facilitation and liberalisation process, enhance sectoral cooperation, notably in the area of rural development, promote benefits of the Eastern Partnership to citizens, increase work with civil society and social partners”.

The document also mentions article 49 of the European Union Treaty giving a right to any European state that observes EU values to apply for EU membership. Some Eastern Partnership countries, says Communication, “attach great importance to their European identity and the development of closer relations with the EU enjoys strong public support”.It adds that “the values on which the European Union is built – namely freedom, democracy, respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms, and the rule of law – are also at the heart of the process of political association and economic integration which the Eastern Partnership offers. These are the same values that are enshrined in article 2 of the European Union Treaty and on which articles 8 and 49 are based”.

Finally, the Commission proposed focusing ENP Action plans and EU assistance “on a smaller number of priorities, backed with more precise benchmarks”.

Read more:

Commission press release

Full text of the Communication

Comment by the Commission President José Manuel Barroso

 Delegation of the European Union to the Republic of Belarus