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European Neighbourhood Policy: the
first Action Plans
Moldova, Ukraine, Morocco, Tunisia, Jordan, Israel and
the Palestinian Authority are the first of the EU’s
neighbours to agree Action Plans, that will make concrete
the European Union’s new offer under the European
Neighbourhood Policy (ENP). These first plans – approved
today by the European Commission – are the product of
negotiations with each country, and in each case the plan is
specifically designed to reflect the specific interests of
the country concerned. The Action Plans will help strengthen
democracy, good governance, the rule of law and human rights
as well as helping with economic modernisation. The concrete
benefits they contain, include the chance to participate in
some EU programmes and a stake in Single Market. In addition
the EU is offering more targeted help to tackle cross border
issues, such as migration and trafficking, as well as
improved interconnections and physical links with the EU in
areas like energy and transport.
“My aim is to create a ring of friends
around the borders of our enlarged EU” said Benita
Ferrero-Waldner, Commissioner for External Relations and the
European Neighbourhood Policy. “We have worked with our
neighbours to devise tailor-made plans that meet the needs
and reflect the requests of each partner. Our offer –
greater co-operation, more financial assistance, and a
chance to benefit from a closer relationship with Europe, -
will bring real benefits to both sides in a range of fields
from Education to the Environment, and from Transport to the
fight against Terrorism”.
The Action Plans reflect the EU’s
determination not to allow new dividing lines to grow up
around the enlarged Union, but rather to export the
stability and prosperity that the EU enjoys. The Plans will:
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offer assistance in bringing
legislation or regulations in line with the EU to
increase access to the EU internal market,
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offer participation in a number of EU
programmes including education, research, environment
and audio-visual,
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step up co-operation on border
management, migration, trafficking in human beings,
organised crime, money laundering and financial and
economic crimes,
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improve links with the EU in the
fields of energy, transport, and information technology,
and
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increase dialogue and co-operation on
counter-terrorism, non-proliferation of weapons of mass
destruction, as well as efforts to resolve regional
conflict.
For each country, the Action Plan is an
agenda for work with the EU over the next 3-5 years. The
plans do not replace, but build on the existing Association
or Co-operation Agreement with each partner.
They make it possible to define more
clearly priorities, and to link financial assistance more
closely to the achievement of mutually agreed goals. The
“tailor-made” principle means that each partner will choose
how far it wants to deepen its political and economic ties
with the EU. The further a partner is ready to go in taking
practical steps to implement common values, the further the
EU will be ready to go in strengthening links.
The Action Plans now pass to the Council for endorsement,
and to the relevant Association or Co-operation Council for
approval.
The Commission has adopted the Action Plan for Ukraine as a
demonstration of its full commitment to the country. The
Commission recommends that the Council transmit this Plan to
the EU–Ukraine Co-operation Council for approval as soon as
developments, including the holding of free and fair
Presidential elections, make it possible to envisage
implementation.
For more information:
http://www.europa.eu.int/comm/world/enp/index_en.htm
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