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COUNCIL CONCLUSIONS ON EUROPEAN
NEIGHBOURHOOD POLICY—ACTION PLANS
The Council welcomed the Commission’s proposals for European
Neighbourhood Policy (ENP) action plans with Israel, Jordan,
Moldova, Morocco, the Palestinian Authority, Tunisia and
Ukraine. It endorsed these action plans, which result from
intensive consultations with ENP partners that were
conducted by the European Commission, in close co-operation
with the Presidency and the Secretary-General/High
Representative.
In this context, the Council reaffirmed the importance it
attributes to the European Neighbourhood Policy. The Council
reiterated that the ENP aims at increased stability,
security and prosperity for the EU and its neighbours and
that it will build on mutual commitment to common values,
including democracy, the rule of law, good governance and
respect for human rights, to the principles of market
economy, free trade, sustainable development and poverty
reduction, as well as to essential concerns, including the
fight against terrorism and the non-proliferation of weapons
of mass destruction and efforts towards the peaceful
resolution of regional conflicts as well as cooperation in
justice and home affairs matters. The Council emphasised
that the intensity and level of ambition of relations with
each ENP partner will be differentiated, reflecting the
degree to which common values are effectively shared, the
existing state of relations with each country, its needs and
capacities, as well as common interests.
The Council invited the Committee of Permanent
Representatives to prepare the necessary decisions enabling
the Co-operation or Association Councils with the respective
ENP partners to confirm these action plans and to launch
their implementation. As concerns Ukraine, the Council
stressed the paramount importance of free and fair
elections, as reflected in the action plan. The Council
agreed to the content of the action plan, and will forward
the action plan to the EU-Ukraine Cooperation Council as
soon as developments in Ukraine make it possible to envisage
implementation of its provisions. The Council noted that the
Partnership and Co-operation Agreements, as well as the
Association Agreements established within the
Euro-Mediterranean Process, provide the framework for
pursuing the implementation and monitoring of the Action
Plans.
The Council stressed the importance of timely implementation
of the action plans by both the EU and ENP partners. It
recalled its intention to undertake a first review of the
implementation of the action plans at the latest two years
from their adoption, on the basis of assessment reports to
be prepared by the Commission, in close co-operation with
the Presidency and the SG/HR on issues related to political
cooperation and the CFSP, and with the contribution of ENP
partners.
The Council took note of the intention of the Commission,
and the Secretary-General/High Representative for issues
related to political co-operation and the CFSP, to present
country reports on Egypt and Lebanon to the Council by March
2005, in view of engaging consultations with partner
countries about action plans. It also noted that the
Commission, and the Secretary-General/High Representative
for issues related to political co-operation and the CFSP,
intend to prepare country reports on Armenia, Azerbaijan and
Georgia by the same date, so as to allow for the Council to
decide on opening consultations on establishing action plans
with one or more of these countries. It invited the
Commission, and the Secretary-General/High Representative
for issues related to political co-operation and the CFSP,
to take forward this work.
Recalling the GAERC conclusions of 14 June 2004, the Council
reiterated that the European Neighbourhood Policy is open to
Belarus and all Mediterranean countries including Libya once
they have met the necessary conditions for inclusion.
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