April 2015

Did you Know?

The European Neighbourhood Policy (ENP) was launched the in 2003 (then developed in 2004), with the objective of avoiding the emergence of new dividing lines between the enlarged EU and its neighbours. The policy is based on the values of democracy, rule of law and respect of human rights.

EDC News: European Neighbourhood Policy (ENP)

The development of the European Union is directed by the rules set out in the Treaty on European Union. The main purpose of the Treaty is to provide a democratic environment for decision-making and to create harmony and good relations not only between European countries but, also, with its neighbouring countries; as stated in Article 8(1) of the Treaty on European Union:

"The Union shall develop a special relationship with neighbouring countries, aiming to establish an area of prosperity and good neighbourliness, founded on the values of the Union and characterised by close and peaceful relations based on cooperation".

The European Neighbourhood Policy (ENP), which is based on the values of democracy, rule of law and respect of human rights, governs the EU's relations with 16 of the EU's closest Eastern and Southern Neighbours. To the South: Algeria, Egypt, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon,Libya, Morocco, Palestine, Syria and Tunisia and to the East: Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine.

The ENP is chiefly a bilateral policy between the EU and each partner country. Partner countries agree with the EU an ENP action plan (AP) or an Association Agenda. The AP sets out an agenda of political and economic reforms with short and medium-term priorities and serves as the political framework guiding the priorities for cooperation. The EU supports the achievement of these objectives through financial support, economic integration, easier travel to the EU and technical and policy support.

The bilateral policy is further enriched and complemented by regional and multilateral co-operation initiatives: the Eastern Partnership(launched in Prague in May 2009), the Euro-Mediterranean Partnership (EUROMED) (the Euro-Mediterranean Partnership, formerly known as the Barcelona Process, re-launched in Paris in July 2008), and the Black Sea Synergy (launched in Kiev in February 2008), etc.

For the period 2014-2020, the bulk of the funding for the ENP is through the European Neighbourhood Instrument (ENI). Funding is also obtained from other EU instruments and programmes:

• Global or thematic programmes under the Development Co-operation Instrument

• The European Instrument for Democracy and Human Rights

• The Instrument for Stability and interventions under the Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP) and Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP)

Legal basis for the ENP:

• Treaty on European Union

  • Article 8(1)

  • Article 8(2)

• Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU):

  • Part Five: The Union's External Action, Title II Common Commercial Policy, Articles 206-207 (trade)

  • Part Five: The Union's External Action, Title V - International Agreements, Articles 216-219

For further information:

• ENP Action Plans

• European External Action Service (EEAS) progress reports on the implementation of the ENP, as well as, links to country reports, fact-sheets and statistical data

• Strategic Papers relating to the ENP

• Consolidated version of the Treaty of the European Union

• Consultation: "Towards a new European Neighbourhood Policy", from 04.03.2015 until 30.06.2015

• Eastern Partnership - Fourth Eastern Partnership summit, Riga

• ENP in various EU policy areas

• EU Neighbourhood Library – EU funded project: online ENP and ENPI documents database