For a new, innovative and ambitious European Neighbourhood policy review

When Catherine Ashton and I embarked on a review of the European Neighbourhood Policy (ENP) last year, our intention was to put relations with our nearest neighbours at the forefront of EU foreign policy. This is not only because the Lisbon Treaty recognises the special character of the relations with our neighbours, but mainly because the EU's security, economic and political interests, as well as its role as an international actor, are most directly at stake in our neighbourhood. Developments at our borders have a huge influence on our continued prosperity and security.

The Communication on the European Neighbourhood Policy review adopted on the 25th May sets out the main priorities of a revitalised ENP strategy. The review has been undertaken following close consultations with all our partners in the East and the South and the 27 Member States. We have also consulted parliaments, representatives of civil society, think tanks and other stakeholders: their valuable input has been a source of inspiration throughout the process. This wide consultation strengthens the sense of joint ownership.

The Communication builds on the "partnership for Democracy and shared Prosperity with the Southern Mediterranean" adopted in March 2011 in which we laid out our immediate response to events in the South. It makes concrete proposals on how the work on the Partnership will be taken forward, including in terms of funding. It also looks eastwards. We need to further strengthen the Eastern Partnership, which has helped to consolidate a difficult process of democratic change. The Association Agreements through which the partner countries can reach an unprecedented level of convergence with EU laws are at the heart of this process. We need to accompany them in this road based on our shared European identity and values and prepare for a successful 2nd Eastern partnership summit in September in Warsaw.

Our neighbours are changing fast; this is forcing us to change and adapt our policies. However, there is a common theme: citizens across the neighbourhood are demanding democracy, dignity, social development, prosperity evenly shared by all citizens. The new approach to the ENP is based on four directions.



A differentiated partnership

It is a truism to state that the EU’s neighbours are all very different, and that the EU’s response must be calibrated accordingly, but what does this mean concretely? In my view, the point of departure is that the area of security and prosperity that we seek to extend to our neighbourhood must be built on democratic values, the rule of law and the respect of human rights. We are ready to go further and faster with those partners who choose the path of reforms based on the universal values we cherish. We will mobilise a large range of instruments at the EU’s disposal to help and encourage them, including greater financial support, greater market access and progressive economic integration in the internal market, easier mobility of people in particular through so-called mobility partnership, or participation in selected EU agencies and programmes. This is the approach I call "more for more".



A partnership with people

Too often in the past we have privileged relations with those in power over cooperation with civil society. We need to redress the balance. Non-governmental organisations are key actors in promoting democratic and market-oriented reforms, and a thriving civil society is a barrier against authoritarianism because they can hold governments accountable. We propose to support more effectively the development of civil society. We propose to establish a Civil Society Facility which will help civil society organisations develop their advocacy capacity and strengthen their ability to monitor reforms. In addition, we want to develop people to people links. We propose to increases funds for developing student exchanges but also measures to facilitate the legitimate mobility of people across the EU borders while preserving the security of our citizens.



A comprehensive partnership

With the entry into force of the Lisbon Treaty, political co-operation between the EU and its immediate neighbours can shift to a higher gear in a number of areas. This means addressing some of the global issues which affect the EU and our neighbours alike: energy security, climate change, the fight against international terrorism and non-proliferation. It also includes tackling security issues that are of most immediate concern to our neighbours – for example how can we help to resolve the protracted conflicts? The Lisbon Treaty has increased the possibility to use all EU instruments, civilian and military, in a more coordinated and more effective manner.



A nurtured partnership

If our relations with our neighbours are to intensify further, our politicians will need to devote sufficient time and attention to provide, with their counterparts in the neighbouring countries, strong joint political steering. Close, high-level dialogue is needed not only on general political matters but on all specific areas of our co-operation.

A more ambitious strategy needs increased resources. The Communication proposes to allocate, in 2011-2013, 1.24 billion euro in grant money to support all the proposed initiatives. This would in addition to the funds that are already earmarked for our neighbourhood in 2011-2013, which amount to 5.7 billion euro.

The challenges our neighbours are confronted with are enormous and the consequences of doing too little too late would be calamitous. We owe it to this and future generations of citizens both in the EU and in our neighbourhood to be up to the challenge.