Brussels, 25/05/2011 (Agence Europe) - In response to the “Arab spring”, EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs Catherine Ashton and Enlargement and Neighbourhood Policy Commissioner Stefan Füle, on Wednesday 25 May, presented Commission proposals for reform of the European Neighbourhood Policy (ENP) to make it more able to support the democratisation and socio-economic development of the 16 neighbourhood countries of the Mediterranean (Egypt, Tunisia, Syria, Algeria, Libya, Morocco, Israel, Palestine, Lebanon and Jordan) and the East (Georgia, Ukraine, Moldova, Armenia, Azerbaijan and Belarus). The intention is to make European aid more dependent on conditions being met and to reward those countries which go further along the path of democratic and economic reform by granting them greater access to the European market, making it easier for their citizens to travel to the EU, and offering more extended sectoral cooperation and improved contractual relations with the EU (“more for more”). At the same time, the suggestion is to operate sanctions against countries which refuse to bring in reforms. Their financial envelopes will be reviewed and may be cut. The Commission proposes to make an additional €1.2 billion available to fund the new, more ambitious ENP, which will be based on “mutual accountability” and a “shared commitment to the universal values of human rights, democracy and the rule of law”. The Commission does not intend to impose one particular democratic model on its partners (reforms may vary from one country to another, it says) but a number of criteria are considered as being essential if “deep democracy” is to be achieved: free and regular elections, freedom of expression and association, an independent judiciary, tackling corruption, and democratic control of the armed and security forces. Particular emphasis will be laid on civil society which will be required to play a much greater role in the ENP, which, itself, must no longer be focused exclusively on contacts with the governments of partner countries.
Free trade. Well aware that the massive economic and social problems facing neighbourhood countries are a source of instability, the Commission proposes to make economic development and job creation central planks of the neighbourhood policy. In addition to encouraging investment, the Commission suggests, inter alia, strengthening trade links and further opening up European markets. It proposes to negotiate “deep and comprehensive free-trade areas” with “willing and able” partners, along with progressive alignment with EU rules and standards. “For the most advanced partners, deep and comprehensive free-trade areas can lead to progressive economic integration with the EU internal market”, the communication says. Additionally, the Commission would like the EU to do more by way of trade concessions, in particular in sectors likely immediately to stimulate the economies of neighbourhood countries. Still with the aim of promoting socio-economic development, the Commission also urges stronger sectoral cooperation, with particular emphasis on knowledge, innovation, climate change and the environment, energy and transport. It suggests, too, helping neighbours to become involved in the work of some EU agencies and programmes.
Mobility. The Commission proposes offering those countries which are farthest along the road of reform the opportunity to join a process possibly leading to visa liberalisation. For countries which have not made the same headway, it proposes joining the visa facilitation process. “Along with the visa facilitation and re-admission agreements in force or under elaboration with Eastern Partnership countries, the EU should also seek to conclude visa facilitation agreements, simultaneously with re-admission agreements, with partners in the South”. “Mobility partnerships”, as already exist for Moldova and Georgia, should also be established with other neighbourhood countries. The Commission is looking to conclude the negotiations already underway with Armenia and will propose beginning talks with Morocco, Tunisia and Egypt.
Increased aid. The Commission proposes that the reformed ENP should be allocated an additional €1.242 billion by 2013. This is on top of the €5.7 billion already planned for the 2011-2013 period (the additional money is to come from reallocation within column 4 of the 2007-2013 multiannual financial framework, use of the unallocated margin and the flexibility instrument). Aid will be targeted more on a reduced number of short- and medium-term priorities, to be negotiated with each of the partner countries in “action plans” which, in future, will “incorporate more precise benchmarks and a clearer sequencing of actions”. The Commission proposes, too, to make greater use of the EIB and the EBRD. Thus, it backs extending the EIB mandate to eastern and southern neighbourhood countries and extending the EBRD mandate to some southern Mediterranean countries. The rule up until now that one-third of ENP funding goes to the countries of the east and two-thirds to southern neighbours will no longer necessarily obtain, as the money will go to where the reform is, Commissioner Füle announced on Thursday. “We will give more (money) to those who carry out more reform. That is where we have to put the money. We will not be guided by geography”, he said. (H.B./transl.rt)