Statistical cooperation - European Neighbourhood Policy
This article is part of a set of background articles which introduce the statistical cooperation activities of the European Union (EU) with non-member countries and focuses on the European Neighbourhood Policy (ENP). More specific information can be found in articles on ENP-East countries and ENP-South countries.
Full article
Countries concerned
The European Neighbourhood Policy (ENP) is about working together with countries neighbouring the EU in order to increase their prosperity, stability and security. The geographical regions concerned are: eastern Europe and the southern Caucasus, collectively referred to as ENP-East; and the southern and eastern shores of the Mediterranean, collectively referred to as ENP-South. The ENP-East countries are: Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus [1], Georgia, Republic of Moldova and Ukraine [2]. The ENP-South countries are: Algeria, Egypt, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Libya, Morocco, Palestine [3], Syria [4] and Tunisia.
Context
The ENP was developed in 2004, with the objective of avoiding the emergence of new dividing lines between the enlarged EU and its neighbours; its aim was to strengthen the prosperity, stability and security of all parties. The ENP is a key part of the EU’s foreign policy.
In May 2011, partly in response to the ‘Arab Spring’, the European Commission (EC) and the European External Action Service (EEAS) launched a new and ambitious ENP, confirming the EU’s determined and reinforced engagement with its neighbours to the east and to the south. A policy document sets out the main priorities for the new policy.
The ENP was revised in 2015 based on a wide consultation process that included seeking the opinion of EU Member States, international organisations and Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs). The review was adopted on 18 November 2015 through a joint communication (JOIN(2015) 50 final) of the European Commission and the High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy.
This revision of the ENP focused on six main topics:
- stabilising the neighbourhood;
- moving from a ‘one-size-fits-all’ approach to the principle of ‘differentiation’, to reflect the ambitions and commitment of each partner country and increase ownership and partnership;
- promoting good governance, democracy, rule of law and human rights;
- joint priorities for cooperation, including: economic modernisation and entrepreneurship, employment with a focus on youth, partnership for growth, reform of the security sector, migration and mobility;
- the regional dimension in view of the Eastern Partnership and the Union for the Mediterranean and outreach beyond the ENP countries;
- more effective delivery of support and assistance.
In terms of the formal reporting structures of the ENP, the consultation process suggested that existing action plans and progress reports should be revised to reflect current priorities, in line with the new generation of association agendas.
On 9 February 2021, the Joint EEAS and European Commission Communication on the ‘Renewed Partnership with the Southern Neighbourhood: A new Agenda for the Mediterranean’ was adopted. The initiative is backed by an EU ‘Economic and Investment Plan for our Southern Neighbours’ aimed at unleashing the untapped economic potential of the region.
On 2 July, 2021, the European Commission and the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy outlined a proposal on how to take forward priorities for cooperation with Eastern partners for years to come, underpinned by an Economic and Investment Plan. The comprehensive agenda aims at increasing trade, growth and jobs, investing in connectivity, strengthening democratic institutions and the rule of law, supporting the green and digital transitions, and promoting fair, gender-equal and inclusive societies.
The Neighbourhood, Development and International Cooperation Instrument – Global Europe (NDICI) for the period 2021 – 2027 covers cooperation with the ENP countries.
In November 2017, the EU and Armenia signed a Comprehensive and Enhanced Partnership Agreement. In 2017, the EU and Azerbaijan launched negotiations for a new comprehensive agreement to replace their earlier one in force since 1999. Partnership priorities were also endorsed on 28 September 2018 by the Cooperation Council. The EU has not yet ratified the bilateral Partnership and Cooperation Agreement concluded with Belarus in 1995. In October 2020 and then in February 2024, the Foreign Affairs Council adopted new Council Conclusions on the country.
On 3 March 2022, Georgia applied for EU membership. On 17 June 2022, the European Commission presented its Opinions on the applications submitted by Ukraine, Georgia and the Republic of Moldova. Based on the Commission’s Opinion, on 23 June 2022 the European Council granted the status of candidate country to Ukraine and to the Republic of Moldova, and a European perspective to Georgia by unanimous agreement between the leaders of all 27 EU Member States. On 14 December 2023, the European Council decided to open accession negotiations with Moldova and Ukraine and grant Georgia a candidate status.
The EU-Algeria Association Agreement was signed in April 2002 and entered into force in September 2005. The EU and Algeria adopted their jointly agreed Partnership Priorities in March 2017.
The EU-Egypt Association Agreement is in force since 2004. The new Partnership Priorities adopted in June 2022 guide the relationship for the period 2021-2027.
The EU-Israel Association Agreement entered into force in June 2000. The EU-Israel Action Plan, agreed in 2005, promotes the integration of Israel into European policies and programmes. The validity of the plan has been further extended to January 2025.
The Association Agreement between Jordan and the EU entered into force in May 2002. The EU-Jordan Partnership Priorities adopted in June 2022 guide the relationship until 2027.The Association Agreement between Lebanon and the EU entered into force in April 2006.
The EU-Lebanon Partnership Priorities were adopted in November 2016. Libya, unlike most of the countries of the Southern Neighbourhood, has not concluded an Association Agreement with the EU. However, the EU is committed to the “Berlin Process” under the auspices of the UN as the sole viable framework to relaunch the political process in Libya. In addition to diplomatic action, the EU supports this objective through its international cooperation.
The EU-Morocco Association Agreement entered into force in 2000; negotiations for a Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area between the EU and Morocco were launched on 1 March 2013.
An Interim Association Agreement on Trade and Cooperation was concluded between the EU and the Palestine Liberation Organisation (PLO) on behalf of the Palestinian Authority in 1997. The EU-Palestine Action Plan was approved in May 2013, setting the agenda for economic and political cooperation with the EU. The Action Plan was recently prolonged until 2025.
The EU-Syria Cooperation Agreement was signed in 1977. The European Union (EU) suspended all its bilateral cooperation with the Government of Syria in May 2011, following the escalation of violence and unacceptable human rights situation. The EU Strategy for Syria was adopted in March 2017.
The EU-Tunisia Association Agreement entered into force in 1998. Τhe EU-Tunisia Strategic Priorities were adopted in November 2018 by the Council, as the main guiding lines for the EU-Tunisia privileged partnership in 2018-2020. They were prolonged in December 2021.
Role of statistics in the ENP
Statistical cooperation is an integral part of broader cooperation policies. Statistics can help to improve the governance of countries through the development of evidence-based policymaking, transparency and democratic processes. The role of statistics in the ENP is to provide the foundations for better monitoring — by the European External Action Service (EEAS) and the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Neighbourhood and Enlargement Negotiations (DG NEAR) — of the mutual commitments and objectives stipulated in bilateral action plans.
The statistical cooperation approach adopted for the ENP countries is different from the processes linked to EU enlargement, as it does not prejudge how the relationship of the neighbouring countries with the EU may develop in the future. ENP countries are encouraged in their actions to get closer to European and international standards and to improve the availability and quality of their statistics.
The role of Eurostat in the ENP and the forms of cooperation between Eurostat and the ENP countries
Eurostat promotes evidence-based decision making and the use of European and international standards and methodology in the ENP countries.
External assessments (such as global assessment reports and peer reviews) help form a picture of the national statistical systems in ENP countries. The assessments give orientations for future actions and technical assistance. The final objective is to improve the availability and the quality of statistics in ENP countries.
Eurostat coordinates EU efforts to increase the statistical capacity of all ENP countries. One way to organise support is through regional programmes, such as the Statistics Through Eastern Partnership Programme (STEP) [5] and MEDSTAT programme.
Outcomes
Statistical cooperation with ENP countries has already resulted in a wide range of improvements, to the benefit of both the partner countries and the EU.
One of these is dissemination of data on a variety of issues for these countries. The main means of disseminating the data are:
- Eurobase, Eurostat’s reference database — either in ENP-East domain or the ENP-South domain;
- Statistics Explained articles highlighting statistics in the ENP countries;
Direct access to
- International statistical cooperation — online publication
Data on the European Neighbourhood Policy countries are disseminated in specific sub-sections in Eurostat's database, under:
- Detailed datasets/ General and regional statistics / Non-EU countries (noneu) / :
Notes
- ↑ Statistical cooperation with Belarus is suspended as of March 2022.
- ↑ On 14-15 December 2023, the European Council decided to open accession negotiations with Moldova and Ukraine, and granted the status of candidate country to Georgia.
- ↑ This designation shall not be construed as recognition of a State of Palestine and is without prejudice to the individual positions of the EU Member States on this issue.
- ↑ Cooperation with Syria is currently suspended due to the political situation in the country.
- ↑ The programme ended in 2022.