Council conclusions on the Review of the European Neighbourhood Policy
The Council
welcomes the Joint Communication of 18 November 2015 on the 'Review of the
European Neighbourhood Policy', aimed at better
responding to changes and challenges in the neighbourhood.
As set out in the April 2015 Council Conclusions, a democratic, stable and
prosperous neighbourhood is a strategic priority and
a fundamental interest for the EU.
Underlining the importance of a special relationship with the EU's neighbours, the stabilisation of
the neighbourhood in political, economic and security
terms will be the main political priority for the EU in the next years. In
doing so, the EU will pursue its interests and promote universal values.
The
European Neighbourhood Policy is key
for both the EU's Common Foreign and Security Policy and other areas of the
EU's external action. The findings of the review should feed in to the
development of wider EU policy, in particular the Global Strategy on Foreign
and Security Policy. The Council recalls
the importance it attaches to the High Representative and the Commission
ensuring better policy coherence with all aspects of EU external action. It
encourages enhanced co-ordination between EU Delegations and Member States, and
also with international organisations, in partner
countries.
The Council
welcomes that the revised ENP, as set out in the Joint Communication, takes
into account interests and needs of the EU and its neighbours,
neighbours' commitment to reforms, the level of
ambition of the partnership as well as different challenges and the
geopolitical environment.
Recalling
the need to ensure the EU Member States' full involvement in the ENP, the
Council will remain seized of the review process and looks forward to a regular
dialogue on its implementation. The
Council invites the High Representative and the Commission to engage with
partner countries on the revised policy and then present progress to the
Council for discussion. The Council
looks forward to regular high-level dialogue on delivery of the European Neighbourhood Policy.
The Council
welcomes the engagement and consultation with partner countries in the review
process. Enhanced differentiation
between and greater ownership by partner countries are key principles for the
reviewed ENP. The Council welcomes the proposals set out in the Joint Communication
to further develop relations with partners wishing to pursue deeper relations
with the EU based on shared values, including by increasing opportunities for
political dialogue at ministerial level.
The Council underlines the importance of assisting all partners in their
reform efforts with a corresponding level of support. The Council confirms the
intention to start a new phase of engagement with partners in 2016 which could
lead to the setting of new partnership priorities, where appropriate, focused
on agreed priorities and interests.
The Council
underlines that the EU's partnerships under the ENP should be focused on people
as well as governments. The Council calls for effective promotion of good
governance, democracy, rule of law and human rights, which are important for
long-term stability. These topics will
be discussed with all partners, in mutually agreed formats, as well as in
partnership with the wider society. This should include enhanced support to
civil society and a renewed focus on the importance of gender equality. The
European Endowment for Democracy can play an important role in this regard.
The Council
stresses the importance of sustainable economic development for stabilisation through investment in economic modernisation with a particular focus on youth, education
and employment to boost prosperity. The Council stresses the need for renewed
action on connectivity, energy security and climate action.
Full and
effective implementation of Association Agreements/ Deep and Comprehensive Free
Trade Areas (AAs/DCFTAs) is a key priority which, accompanied by reforms, will
result in relevant partners' comprehensive approximation with international
standards and EU legislation and standards.
This will lead to the gradual economic integration of AA/DCFTA partners
in the EU internal market and therefore to the creation of an economic area.
Such a vision will also contribute to the long-term goal of a wider area of
economic prosperity based on World Trade Organisation
(WTO) rules and sovereign choices throughout Europe and beyond. The Council encourages the Commission to work
with all ENP partners in their ongoing and possible future negotiations. For those who do not wish to engage in
negotiations for a DCFTA, there should be the opportunity to jointly determine
attractive and realistic alternatives to promote economic integration and
strengthen trade and investment relations that reflect mutual benefits.
The Council
welcomes the new proposals to strengthen the security dimension of the ENP, and
reiterates its calls for greater coherence of the ENP with the security and
foreign policy dimensions of the EU's other actions abroad. This will include measures to reinforce
partners' resilience such as countering the terrorist threat and preventing radicalisation, and supporting Security Sector Reform and
border management. Such security
measures and cooperation will be conducted in full compliance with the rule of
law and international law, including international human rights law. The ENP security proposals should be
implemented in line with the comprehensive approach and with the external
dimension of other relevant EU policies with closer coordination between the
security-related work financed under the ENI and wider CFSP/CSDP activities, where
appropriate. In addition, the Council will enhance cooperation with partners,
including through, where appropriate, CSDP activities or the EU's Special
Representatives, to support the management and resolution of conflicts in the neighbourhood including through agreed frameworks. In
addition, cross-cultural dialogue, such as that promoted by the Anna Lindh foundation, can play a role in conflict prevention.
The Council
welcomes proposals for intensified cooperation on both regular and irregular
migration. The Council calls on the High Representative and the Commission to
continue increasing the support for partner countries receiving and assisting
refugees and IDPs. The Council calls for enhanced effective cooperation on
returns, readmission and sustainable reintegration and for continued engagement
with partners beyond the neighbourhood building on
the Valletta Summit and other existing initiatives. Tackling together with
partners the root causes of irregular migration and forced displacement
including of unaccompanied minors should remain priorities. The Council
reconfirms that enhanced mobility in a secure and well managed environment and
people-to-people contacts should be promoted. Mutually-beneficial regular
migration including circular migration should be promoted through better
support schemes.
The Council
reaffirms the importance of the Eastern Partnership and its commitment to
continue implementing the shared priorities agreed at Riga and previous Eastern
Partnership Summits. The Council supports further strengthening of this
regional dimension, including through the regional programmes
of the EU and the multilateral framework of the EaP.
The Council
acknowledges that the Union for the Mediterranean has proved to be a valuable
forum for political and economic discussion, as well as for agreeing concrete
projects in priority sectors. The Union for the Mediterranean should be
considered as a key regional framework for political dialogue and regional
cooperation efforts, including through regular ministerial meetings.
The Council
supports outreach beyond the neighbourhood in order
to tackle shared challenges. The High Representative and the Commission in
consultation with the Council will develop new Thematic Frameworks with
interested ENP partners to offer cooperation on regional issues in the neighbourhood, to state and multilateral actors, as well as
to other partners.
The Council
also recalls the importance of other existing initiatives with EU and Member
States involvement such as the Black Sea Synergy and AMICI (A southern
Mediterranean Investment Coordination Initiative).
The Council
supports increasing the flexibility of existing financing instruments in order
to improve the EU's capability to respond flexibly to crisis situations. The EU will also preserve the predictability
and continuity of its support for implementing the mutually agreed long-term
reform goals and other elements required by the ENI regulation. Commitment to and
implementation of reform will continue to guide the allocation of funds under
the ENI umbrella programme, in line with the
incentive based approach. The Council looks forward to examining
proposals for more effective delivery of financial support, including those set
out in the Joint Communication.
The Council
recognises the need to improve communication of the
ENP, and on ensuring better visibility and outreach for the policy and its
outcomes. This should include enhanced strategic communication efforts,
including related support to partners and support to independent media in the neighbourhood.
The Council
welcomes the new approach to reporting, focusing specifically on meeting the
goals agreed with partners. This reporting will support the work of Association
Councils, Co-operation Councils and other high-level meetings. In addition, the
Council invites the High Representative and the Commission to provide regular
reporting to track developments in the neighbourhood
as required by the ENI regulation.
European Council