Themes
European Neighbourhood Policy
Aim for human rights focuses in its programme on the human rights aspects of the ENP meant to improve the human rights situation in the neighbouring country. By means of developing a monitoring and advocacy tool together with a number of NGOs, organisations can decide which information they consider most relevant and specific to collect, analyse and evaluate and how best this information can be submitted to the EU. This information may be used during evaluations of ENP Action Plans.
What is the aim of the ENP?
In 2004 the European Union adopted the European Neighbourhood Policy. The objective of the ENP is to share the benefits of the EU’s enlargement with its new neighbours and to strengthen security, stability and well-being in both the EU member-states and its neighbouring countries (“to avoid drawing new dividing lines in Europe and to promote stability and prosperity within and beyond the new borders of the Union”). One of the objectives is the development of a mutual commitment to common values, especially the rule of law, good governance and respect for human rights. The ENP focuses on the Caucasus, the Middle East and North Africa. To implement the ENP, the EU and the neighbouring country concerned jointly agree on an Action Plan with objectives and reform actions. This action plan is evaluated on a regular basis.
What is the background of the ENP?
The ENP complements the so-called Barcelona Process. This process was started by the Euromediterranean Conference of Ministers of Foreign Affairs, held in Barcelona in November 1995. It marked the starting point of the Euromediterranean Partnership, a wide framework of political, economic and social relations between the Member States of the European Union and Partners of the Southern Mediterranean. While the Barcelona process emphasises the multi-lateral relations between the EU on the one hand and the Euro-Mediterranean region on the other hand, the ENP focuses more on the bilateral relations between the EU and the third country concerned.
How does it work and to whom does it apply?
The ENP offers a deeper political relationship and economic integration, depending on the degree of commitment to common values. These common values relate to democracy and human rights, rule of law, good governance, market economy principles and sustainable development. In which speed and to what extent the political and economic integration will take place, is determined according to the degree of commitment to these common values as well as the capacity to implement the jointly agreed priorities. The countries to which the European Neighbourhood Policy (ENP) applies, are Algeria, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Egypt, Georgia, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Libya, Moldova, Morocco, Palestinian Authority, Syria, Tunesia and Ukraine. The ENP remains distinct from the EU enlargement process.
ENP structure: the legal basis
The ENP builds upon existing agreements between the EU and the third country. These agreements have often been concluded at an earlier stage of the Euromediterranean Partnership, for example the Association Agreements. Belarus, Libya and Syria have no such agreements yet and therefore the ENP has not yet been ‘activated’ for these countries.
The Country Report
At the start of the process, the European Commission prepares a Country Report in which it assesses the political and economic situation in the country and describes the bilateral relations between the EU and the third country. The Country Report serves as a baseline for the commonly agreed Action Plan between the EU and the third country, in order to assess any progress made.
The Action Plan
The next step is the negotiation between the EU and the third country about a bilateral Action Plan. The Action Plan is the operational part of the ENP; it reflects the political agreements on six major issues:
- Political dialogue and reform, including human rights
- Economic and social development and reform
- Regulatory and trade related issues
- Justice and home-affairs
- Transport, energy, information society and the environment
- People-to-people contact
More information on the Action Plans
ENP and financial support
Implementation of the Action Plans is supported through financial EU support. Since the first of January 2007, financial support is regulated by the European Neighbourhood Partnership Instrument (ENPI). The ENPI has a separate budget for ENP countries covering the period 2007-2013. Financial assistance is implemented through a number of different geographical and thematic programmes. The priorities are defined in annual and multi-annual programmes.
More information on the ENP
Important documents in which the ENP concept was first outlined and further developed include the Commission’s Communication on wider Europe (March 2003); the Strategy Paper on the European Neighbourhood Policy (May 2004); and the Communication on Strengthening the European Neighbourhood Policy (December 2006). For more information on the ENP and ENPI, see:
