Pawel Siarkiewicz: "Revised European Neighbourhood Policy"

Revised European Neighbourhood Policy

Paweł Siarkiewicz

In the Debate:  ENP review - a proper response to a changing Neighbourhood?

On May 25 the European Commission presented the priorities and directions of the renewed European Neighbourhood Policy (ENP). They are included in the communication “A new response to a changing Neighbourhood” which emerged as a result of the ENP review launched in July 2010. The document envisages to develop the EU-partner states economic relations, to strengthen eastern and southern dimensions of the ENP and to provide greater support to the EU’s neighbours in building democracy.

The European Commission stressed the point that the level of the EU aid to partner states will be strictly linked to the political and economic reform in these countries. While presenting the objectives of the renewed ENP, the EU High Representative, Catherine Ashton announced to increase funding of the EU neighbourhood policy by EUR 1.24 billion until 2013. These resources will be additional to the EUR 5.7 billion provided under ENPI for 2011-2013.

According to the communication a new approach is needed to strengthen relations between the EU and the neighbouring countries. The document said that the recent events in partner states and the review of the ENP proved a limited efficiency of EU neighbourhood policy to date. The revised ENP is declared to enhance a political dialogue with the partners and to base a co-operation with them on the much higher level of  differentiation. The European Commission announced to increase support to these partner countries which follow the principles of the EU partnership with its neighbours: a functioning democracy, respect for human rights and the rule of law. A progress assessment in respect to these principles will determine the level of the EU funding for a given country. The EU financial allocations for 2014 and beyond will be based on the partners’ engagement in reforms during the 2010-2012 period.

The communication stressed an important role of civil society organizations within ENP as a key element of strengthening democracy processes in the partner states. The High Representative and the Commission declared their support for the establishment of an European Endowment for Democracy and Civil Society Facility – both to provide aid to NGOs, trade unions and other social partners in the neighbouring countries.

In respect to the political and security co-operation in the framework of the ENP the Commission propose to enhance the EU involvement in solving protracted conflicts. According to the communication the persistence of these conflicts constitutes a great challenge to a number of partner countries and directly affects the EU interests in the region. At the same time the Commission admits that the EU actions were limited and non-effective so far. In this context the document said that “business as usual is no longer an option if we want to make our neighbourhood a safer place and protect our interests”.

As regards the trade relations a key role of Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area (DCFTA) is underlined for developing economic integration between EU and partner states. The communication emphasized that the launching of the negotiations on DCFTA requires not only WTO membership but also “a sufficient progress towards common values and principles”. In the chapter on migration and mobility the Commission declared to pursue the process of visa facilitation and liberalization for selected ENP partners. As concerns ENP funding within the next financial framework (post-2013), the Commission  will present its proposal this year which are to reflect the renewed ENP vision and its medium term objectives.

You can read the text of the communication here