the EU and its neighbours Flashcards
European Neighbourhood
Policy (ENP)
Developed from 2004
Avoiding new dividing lines between enlarged EU and neighbours
Applies to EU’s immediate neighbours by land or sea (16):
Algeria, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Egypt, Georgia, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Libya, Moldova, Morocco, Occupied Palestinian Territory, Syria,
Tunisia, and Ukraine
2021-27 funding: 19.3 billion euro
The European Neighbourhood Policy (ENP) is the foreign policy framework aiming at bringing the EU and its Eastern and Southern neighbours closer, to their mutual benefit and interest.
The ENP builds on the commitment of the EU and its neighbours to work together on key priority areas.
The reviewed ENP also adds 3 joint priorities for cooperation:
- Economic development for stabilisation;
- Security;
- Migration and mobility.
In 2015 the ENP was reviewed to set out stabilisation as the main policy goal. Article 8 of the TEU states that the EU shall develop a special relationship with neighbouring countries, aiming at establishing an area of prosperity and good neighbourliness
Regional and multilateral
cooperation initiatives
black sea synergy - The EU supports regional development in South-East Europe with its Black Sea Synergy initiative. By encouraging cooperation between the countries surrounding the Black Sea
The Eastern Partnership (EaP) is a joint initiative involving the EU, its Member States and six Eastern European Partner countries: Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, the Republic of Moldova and Ukraine.
artic policy - European Union has an important role to play in supporting successful Arctic cooperation and helping to meet the challenges now facing the region.
The Union for the
Mediterranean (UfM)
Re-launch in 2008 aimed to insert new
vitality into process, increased visibility to
citizens, and a commitment to tangible
regional and trans-national projects
General aims of furthering co-operation,
political and socio-economic reform and
modernisation on basis of equality and
mutual respect for each other’s sovereignty
‘an area of peace and stability in the
Mediterranean’
EU Assumptions
Concept of joint ownership make difficult reforms easier to implement
EU ability to transpose model of liberties
and welfare to neighbouring countries
Following the ‘European way’ will provide the answers to the region’s problems
Problems for the EU
Conflict between Israel and the Palestinians
Different conceptions of / priorities for
Mediterranean neighbours and EU
Political reforms seen as interference in
sovereignty and stability of UfM countries
Existing conflicts and rivalries prevent much
regional cohesion
Differentiation seen as good thing but
results bound to be disparate and uneven (a fragmented ring of countries)
Five Priority Projects for the UfM
(2021)
Environmental and climate action
Sustainable and inclusive economic and
human development
Social inclusiveness and equality
Digital transformation
Civil protection
The Eastern Partnership (EaP)
Polish-Swedish initiative first proposed in 2007
Launched at Prague summit, 7 May 2009
‘main goal is to create the necessary
conditions to accelerate political
association between the EU and interested
partner countries….will seek to support
political and socio-economic reforms of the partner countries, facilitating approximation
towards the EU’
Reinforcing and enhancing ENP (as
‘regional co-operation initiative’)
Treating Eastern Europe as region in own right separate from countries in North Africa and Middle East
Tailored to Eastern European countries
seeking closer ties to EU (6): Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia,
Moldova and Ukraine
Not Russia: ‘strategic partner’ based on four
‘common spaces’
Principles of EaP
Fundamental values (democracy, rule
of law, respect for human rights and
fundamental freedoms)
Market economy
Sustainable development
Good governance
Differentiation and conditionality
Aims of EaP
Four main aims:
Democracy, good governance and stability
Economic integration, and convergence with EU sectoral policies
Energy security
Contacts between people
Revised and updated in July 2021
Challenges of EaP
Question of ‘regional ownership’; initiatives shaped from
EU perspective – shift to security
Unclear strategy by EU (common sphere of values, share
civilisational identity or zone of conflicts)
Limited leverage and buffeted by events
‘New’ Eastern Europe not a unified region; ‘a group of countries with different interests and internal conflicts’
Russian counter-attraction / pressure
Re-opens enlargement question – 2022 Ukraine and
Moldova, Georgia Candidate status.
conclusion
European Neighbourhood challenging
EU tools weaker than enlargement process
Questions re coherence of policy defined
regions
Counter-influence of other powers e.g. US &
Russia
Unresolved enlargement questions e.g. Turkey
