Brussels, 11/03/2003 (Agence Europe) - Setting up a framework for relations that the EU wants between its "new neighbours" from the East and South in the next decade once enlargement is achieved, is the objective in the communication adopted on Tuesday by the European Commission. This communication, proposed by the President of the Commission Romano Prodi and the Commissioner for External Relations, Chris Patten, will involve, Russia, the Ukraine, Moldavia, Byelorussia, as well as Barcelona Partnership countries (Algeria, Egypt, Israel, Jordan, the Lebanon, Libya, Morocco, the Palestinian Authority, Syria, and Tunisia. It is on the agenda of the General Affairs and External Relations Council meeting on 18-19 March, which is expected to adopt it.
The Commission will offer its new neighbours the chance of access to the EU internal market, particularly the four freedoms (movement of goods, services, people and capital), on the condition that these countries set up political, economic and institutional reforms that are necessary. With this objective, it is proposing concrete measures in the different areas: extension of regulatory structures and the internal market; preferential trade relations; intensified cooperation in common security; promotion of human rights; integration in EU transport, energy and telecommunications networks. This new policy could be put into practice by national and/or regional action plans that are accompanied by studies on progress achieved. Once adopted by the Council and if the progress carried out justifies it, the plans could replace the "EU common strategies" towards these counties. New agreements between the EU and these countries, replacing the association agreements and the partnership and cooperation agreements could be signed. The Commission will assess the situation on a case-by-case basis on how each country is developing.