Brussels, 25/03/2015 (Agence Europe) - On Wednesday 25 March, the European Commission adopted a series of annual reports assessing implementation of the European neighbourhood policy (ENP) and the situation of the 16 partner countries of Eastern Europe and the Southern Mediterranean in 2014. The reports also make recommendations for each country for 2015.
From a general point of view, 2014 was a mixed year for the neighbourhood. The Commission states that 2014 was marked by: - the signature of association agreements including a deep and comprehensive free trade area with Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine; - the democratic transition in Tunisia and the strengthening of links with Morocco. However, the conflicts continued, be it in the East (Ukraine) or the South (Syria and also Libya and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict) leading to security and humanitarian issues. “In this crucial period, the EU is determined to intensify its political, economic and security cooperation with its partners in the whole region”, said High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Federica Mogherini in a press release.
The 16 neighbourhood countries are: - in the east - Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine; - in the south - Algeria, Egypt, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Libya, Morocco, Palestine, Syria and Tunisia. For 2014, Algeria, Syria, Libya and Belarus are not the subject of reports because they do not have either an association agenda or an ENP action plan with the EU. (Camille-Cerise Gessant)