The Policy: Welcome!

The European Union is enjoying an unprecedented high standard of living, and the longest peace in its history - but what about the states just outside its borders? Just at a time when we have ended the division of our continent, it is important that the outer perimeter of the EU should not become a new dividing line.

The European Neighbourhood Policy is all about working together with those states who share a land or sea border with the EU, to increase their prosperity and stability too.

Neighbours who want to carry out reforms to improve their standards of democracy and human rights, to increase their access to the Union's single market, to improve the environment or to step up their co-operation with the EU on issues like energy, transport or migration, have the chance to work on a joint Action Plan with the EU, and can look forward to substantial assistance: technical help, political support, and more aid money.

The ENP is a jointly owned initiative and its implementation requires action on both sides, by the neighbours and by the EU.

In December 2006 the Commission suggested to strengthen the ENP. In the December 2007 Communication the Commission sets out the objectives and identifies areas where additional efforts are required on the part of the EU to bring the ENP further in 2008 and beyond:

• Greater commitment to foster economic integration and improve market access. In ongoing trade negotiations the number of products excluded from full liberalisation should be limited
• More ambitious developments in managed migration: the facilitation of legitimate short-term travel; making it easier for some categories of visitors to get visas e.g. students, business people, NGOs, journalists, officials by using of the opportunities under existing rules
• Further engagement in tackling frozen conflicts in the neighbourhood, using the full range of instruments at the EU’s disposal
• Intensified EU support for partner countries’ sectoral reforms in areas such as energy, climate change, environment, fisheries, transport, maritime policy, research, information society, education, employment and social policy
• More people to people contacts, more exchanges in education (including enhanced academic and student mobility) and between youth, researchers, civil society and cultural groups, business, trade unions, regional and local authorities
• Stronger political and regional cooperation.