| Author (Corporate) | European Commission, High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy |
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| Series Details | JOIN (2015) 6 |
| Publication Date | 04/03/2015 |
| Content Type | Policy-making |
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Summary: Joint Consultation Paper published by the European Commission and the EU's High Representative for Foreign and Security Policy on 4 March 2015, aiming to frame the discussion for a revision of the European Neighbourhood Policy (ENP). Further information: The European Neighbourhood Policy (ENP) was first outlined by the European Commission in 2003 and launched in the following year. It aimed at helping the European Union support and foster stability, security and prosperity in the countries closest to its borders. While the EU remained committed to these goals, a series of events led to the understanding that a new approach was required, a re-prioritisation and an introduction of new ways of working. Those events took place outside of the borders of the European Union, but also highlighted the interdependence between the EU and its closest neighbours. At the same time, the ENP also evolved since its inception: the regional component was strengthened as the Barcelona Process evolved into the creation of the Union for the Mediterranean in 2008 and the Eastern Partnership was launched in 2009. The content of the policy also significantly increased. However, the ENP was not always able to offer adequate responses to those developments, nor to the changing aspirations of the EU's partners. Partners demonstrated increasing differences of engagement with the EU as a whole and in relation to different policy sectors. The neighbours’ strategic orientations determine the extent to which each of them wishes to engage with different actors including the EU. A review became necessary to assess the assumptions on which the policy is based, as well as its scope, and how instruments should be used, including how different policy sectors can better contribute to cooperation, ensuring linkages between internal and external priorities. The purpose of such a review is to ensure the ENP can, in the future, support more effectively the development of an area of shared stability, security and prosperity with the partners. It also has to explore whether the ‘special relationship’ is reaching its full potential, and what can be done to strengthen it in the interests of both the EU and its partners. The review needs to answer the demands of partners with very different levels of ambition. In this context, the President of the European Commission decided that the ENP should be reviewed within the first year of the Commission's mandate. Member States also called for a review and put forward some proposals. Partner countries expressed the need to revisit the policy; as have external stakeholders. The aim of this document is to frame the discussion for a thorough re-examination of the ENP. The European Parliament adopted a Resolution in July 2015 to provide input on the work conducted by the European Commission and the High Representative, which resulted in a Joint Communication later in the year. |
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| Source Link | http://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=JOIN:2015:006:FIN |
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| Subject Categories | Politics and International Relations |
| Subject Tags | European Neighbourhood Policy [ENP] |
| International Organisations | European Union [EU] |
