What is the European Neighbourhood Policy (ENP)?The ENP’s objective is to share the benefits of the EU’s 2004 enlargement with neighbouring countries in strengthening stability, security and well-being for all concerned. It is designed to prevent the emergence of new dividing lines between the enlarged EU and its neighbours and to offer them the chance to participate in various EU activities, through greater political, security, economic and cultural co-operation. ENP will also help address one of the strategic objectives the European Union set in the European Security Strategy in December 2003, that of building security in our neighbourhood.
The ENP is distinct from the issue of potential membership. It offers a privileged relationship with neighbours, which will build on mutual commitment to common values principally within the fields of the rule of law, good governance, the respect for human rights, including minority rights, the promotion of good neighbourly relations, and the principles of market economy and sustainable development. The level of ambition of the EU’s relationships with its neighbours will take into account the extent to which these values are effectively shared.
The policy, which was first outlined by the Commission in its Communication on Wider Europe of March 2003, demonstrates the high priority that the Union accords to shaping our future relations with our neighbours. Substantially increased financial assistance and a single, dedicated European Neighbourhood and Partnership Instrument will support the implementation of this policy. This instrument will also improve the Union’s capacity to support cross-border cooperation at our external borders.
The Commission presented a Strategy Paper and Country Reports [links] on 12th May 2004. The Strategy paper is an important step in setting out in concrete terms how the Union can work more closely with its neighbours and extend some of the benefits of enlargement. It offers a means for an enhanced and more focussed policy approach of the EU towards its neighbourhood, bringing together the principal instruments at the disposal of the Union and its Member States. It will thus contribute to further advancing and supporting the EU’s foreign policy objectives.
On the basis of the Strategy Paper, the Commission will shortly present a first set of draft Action Plans with partner countries. These Action Plans are key political documents for the further development of our relations. The method applied in the Action Plans is, together with partner countries, to define a set of priorities, whose fulfilment will bring them closer to the European Union. These priorities cover a number of key areas for specific action: political dialogue and reform; trade and measures preparing partners for gradually obtaining a stake in the EU’s Internal Market; justice and home affairs; energy, transport, information society, environment and research and innovation; and social policy and people-to-people contacts. Action Plans with further partner countries, as well as Country Reports, will follow.