UK GOVERNMENT: DELIVERY IS TOP OF EU AGENDA

M2 Presswire
Published: Sep 03, 2007
United Kingdom

Making people’s lives better is the right focus for the European Union,
Europe Minister Jim Murphy said today as he started a two day visit
to key European Union partners.

After attending the European Neighbourhood Policy (ENP) conference in
Brussels, Mr Murphy will meet Dutch Europe Minister Frans Timmermans
in The Hague. He will also meet MEPs at the European Parliament’s
plenary session in Strasbourg.

Mr Murphy said:

"I am pleased that my first trip to Brussels is for such an important
and practical event. The Neighbourhood Policy is an excellent example
of the EU delivering real change for the better for citizens across the
European Union and in its immediate neighbourhood. The EU has played
a vital role in delivering better prospects for peace, security and
prosperity to the neighbourhood.

"We and ENP partners have a wide range of common interests. ENP can
help develop joint responses to common challenges such as sustainable
development, migration, climate change and energy, terrorism and
extremism.

Commenting on the Reform Treaty, Mr Murphy said:

"The 27 EU member states have agreed the shape of a new amending
treaty which will enable us to work together more effectively and
more efficiently.

Acceptable to all members’ governments, it ends the long-running EU
debate about institutions.

"The priority for Member States’ governments now is to focus on how
the EU can move forward to tackle the big issues such as driving up
employment, combating climate change and protecting consumers."

Notes to Editors

1. The European Neighbourhood Policy (ENP) was developed in 2004,
with the objective of avoiding the emergence of new dividing lines
between the enlarged EU and its neighbours. It aims to strengthen the
prosperity, stability and security of the enlarged EU’s neighbours,
incentivising reform, while not prejudicing future applications for
EU membership by eligible countries.

2. Through ENP, the EU offers its neighbours a privileged relationship,
building upon a mutual commitment to common values (democracy and human
rights, rule of law, good governance, market economy principles and
sustainable development). The ENP goes beyond existing relationships
to offer a deeper political relationship and economic integration. The
level of ambition of the relationship depends on the extent to which
these values are effectively shared.

The ENP remains distinct from the process of enlargement.

3. The European Neighbourhood Policy applies to the EU’s immediate
neighbours by land or sea – Algeria, Egypt, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon,
Libya, Morocco, Palestinian Authority, Syria and Tunisia to the south,
and Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine to
the east.