The Policy: How does the European Neighbourhood Policy work

In order to realise the vision of building an increasingly closer relationship with our neighbours, and a zone of stability, security and prosperity for all, the EU and each ENP partner reach agreement on reform objectives across a wide range of fields within certain “common” areas such as cooperation on political and security issues, to economic and trade matters, mobility, environment, integration of transport and energy networks or scientific and cultural cooperation. The EU provides financial and technical assistance to support the implementation of these objectives, in support of partners’ own efforts.

Many of the instruments and methods used in the ENP are similar to those used to support transition processes elsewhere e.g.

• At the outset of the process, the Commission prepared Country Reports assessing the political and economic situation as well as institutional and sectoral aspects, to assess when and how it is possible to deepen relations with that country. Country Reports were published in May 2004 on the first seven of the ENP countries to have Agreements in force with the EU. A further five Country Reports were published in March 2005 on the next countries to be included in the policy (Southern Caucasus) or whose Agreements had come into force (Egypt and Lebanon). Country Reports are submitted to the Council which decides whether to proceed to the next stage of relations.

  
  

• That next stage was the development of ENP Action Plans with each country. These documents are negotiated with and tailor-made for each country, based on the country’s needs and capacities, as well as their and the EU’s interests. They jointly define an agenda of political and economic reforms by means of short and medium-term (3-5 years) priorities. They cover political dialogue and reform, economic and social cooperation and development, trade-related issues and market and regulatory reform, cooperation in justice and home affairs, sectors (such as transport, energy, information society, environment, research and development) and a human dimension (people-to-people contacts, civil society, education, public health …). The incentives on offer, in return for progress on relevant reforms, are greater integration into European programmes and networks, increased assistance and enhanced market access. 12 such ENP Action Plans are being implemented – with Israel, Jordan, Moldova, Morocco, Occupied Palestinian Territory, Tunisia and Ukraine since 2005 and with Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Lebanon and Egypt since end 2006/beginning 2007. Following the expiration of the first Action Plans succession documents are being adopted.

   

• The implementation of the mutual commitments and objectives contained in the Action Plans is regularly monitored through sub-committees with each country, dealing with those sectors or issues. On 4 December 2006, the Commission issued its first periodic report on progress and on areas requiring further progress. A second set of progress reports on implementation of the ENP in 2007, a communication drawing conclusions from the reports [50 KB] and a sectoral progress report [873 KB] , were adopted on 3 April 2008. The last set of progress reports on the implementation of ENP in 2008 was adopted on 23 April 2009. The third package of progress reports on the implementation of ENP in 2008 was adopted on 23 April 2009. The communication on stock-taking of the ENP (2004-2009), 12 progress reports on implementation of the ENP in 2009 and sectoral progress report, were adopted on 12 May 2009.
  
  

• Implementation of the reforms is supported through various forms of EC-funded financial and technical assistance , including instruments which have proven successful in supporting reforms in Central, Eastern Europe and South-Eastern Europe but also new instruments, such as the Neighbourhood Investment Facility (NIF).

Fact-sheets describing progress to date in Armenia, Azerbaijan, Egypt, Georgia, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Moldova, Morocco, the occupied Palestinian territory, Tunisia and Ukraine, in implementing key reform priorities