EurActive.com
Published: Thursday 3 March 2005 – 08:50

Ferrero-Waldner: 2005 will be “year of delivery” for Neighbourhood Policy

In Short:

Under the European Neighbourhood Policy process, the Commission has
recommended an intensification of relations with Armenia, Azerbaijan, Egypt,
Georgia and Lebanon.

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Background:

The EU has already negotiated action plans with Israel, Jordan, Moldova,
Morocco, the Palestinian Authority, Tunisia and Ukraine. On 2 March, the
Commission adopted country reports on five more countries: Egypt, Lebanon
and the Southern Caucasus countries of Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia.
Based on these reports, the Commission has recommended an intensification of
relations.

The new country reports analyse and evaluate the political, economic and
institutional reforms in the five countries, opening up the prospect of
concluding action plans with them. The prospective three-year action plans
will detail specific measures and obligations on both sides for increased
co-operation. The five states are expected to have their action plans in
place by the end of 2005.

The EU’s Neighbourhood Policy is directed at a ring of countries. To date,
Israel, Jordan and Ukraine have signed their respective action plans, with
Morocco, Moldova, the Palestinian Authority and Tunisia set to follow suit.

Issues:

Azerbaijan:

The Commission is recommending a “significant intensification of relations”
with Azerbaijan. The country was included in the ENP process in June 2004,
based on an existing Partnership and Co-operation Agreement. The key
objectives for an action plan include:

strengthening the rule of law, democratic structures and pluralism
effective reforms of the judiciary and the law enforcement agencies
enhanced protection of human rights and press freedom
balanced economic development

Armenia:

Armenia, along with the two other Caucasus states, was taken on board in
June 2004 largely as a result of the “Rose Revolution” that took place in
Georgia in November 2003. The key objectives for an action plan include:

strengthening the rule of law, democratic structures and pluralism
strengthening respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms
enhanced economic development
effective reform of the systems of taxation and customs
increased fight against corruption and fraud
effective reduction of poverty
Georgia:

Georgia is seen by the EU as the most advanced nation in the region. It
hosts the only full Commission mission. A member of the ENP process since
June 2004, Georgia’s prospective action plan should aim to:

strengthen respect for the rule of law
enhance protection of human rights
strengthen democratic structures and pluralism
improve the business climate
reform the systems of taxation and customs
improve the transparency of the privatisation process
Egypt:

The EU already has an Association Agreement with Egypt. The ENP goes beyond
that agreement by offering the prospect of an “increasingly close
relationship” with the EU, “involving a significant degree of economic
integration and a deepening of political co-operation”. The key objectives
for an action plan include joint commitments:

for strengthening democracy and the rule of law
in the areas of foreign and security policy
closer economic co-operation
enhanced co-ordination in trade and internal market
Lebanon:

The entry into force of Lebanon’s Association Agreement with the EU is
imminent. The prospective action plan will set out priorities in two broad
areas:

strengthening democracy and the rule of law and enhancing foreign and
security policy co-operation
enhancing co-operation in economic and social development as well as trade
and internal market issues

Positions:

External Relations Commissioner Benita Ferrero-Waldner said that 2005 will
be “the year of delivery” for the European Neighbourhood Policy. “The
challenge for the EU and for our partners will be to turn the commitments
and aspirations […] into reality, through measurable reforms bringing
concrete benefits for our neighbouring countries and their citizens”.

Commission spokeswoman Françoise Le Bail said that the EU has “already
adopted a certain number of ‘country reports’ and ‘action plans’ for some
countries, we’re therefore now completing this action with the ‘country
reports’ on five countries. And it is on the these ‘country reports’ that
the ‘action plans – containing concrete measures for cooperation between
these countries and the EU – will be based.”

Latest & next steps:

The Neighbourhood Policy does not include a commitment by the EU to take any
of the beneficiary states on board. However, the ENP process could lead to a
near-complete integration in the EU’s single market
The Commission’s recommendations require the Council’s seal of approval
The prospective three-year action plans are expected to be concluded by the
end of 2005