Brussels, 03/03/2015 (Agence Europe) - On Monday 2 March, European Commissioner for Neighbourhood Policy and Enlargement Negotiations Johannes Hahn stated that strengthening the European neighbourhood policy (ENP) was a “core project” for the Commission. A consultation on the ENP will be launched on 4 March, which will run until the end of June. At the time of taking up office, Hahn had been asked by European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker to make an in-depth review of this policy.
“In the new ENP that will emerge from the review, we need to be clearer about our objectives and interests. We want to be a key partner for the countries on our doorstep, while defending their right to choose their own way forward. We prefer to work with democracies in open trading relationships (…) And we want to have good working relationships on issues that affect us like energy security, counter terrorism, or migration”, Hahn stated at a conference in Vienna.
He spoke about the differentiation between countries and the ownership of the ENP by the partner countries, with a partnership of equals and more visible results. Greater sectoral cooperation is another priority, as is a more flexible policy for being able to react to how the situation evolves.
Eduard Kukan MEP (EPP, Slovakia) will draw up an own initiative report on the ENP review. (Camille-Cerise Gessant)