The European neighborhood policy

Résumé du document

In this essay I will deal with the European Neighborhood Policy, through a general overview of what this policy consists in. The most useful source that was used to elaborate on this subject is the website of the European Commission, which is one of the major players in the implementation of the European Neighborhood Policy. The European Neighborhood policy consists of an important action in the external relations of the European Union, even though it is a quite recent policy, as it was first outlined in March 2003 in the Commission Communication on Wider Europe. This policy is really new and original concerning the external relations of the European Union. Indeed before 2004 enlargement the EU had no concrete or coherent policy towards its neighbors. Each member-state of EU was following its own political line, towards the neighbor countries on which he had the most influence. For example France was applying its own policy towards the North African countries in the name of EU, Spain was responsible of the policy towards the South American States, and the British aim was to have better relations with the United States and at the same time Germany was trying to represent the interests of the Eastern European countries.

Extraits

[...] The European neighbourhood policy In this essay I will deal with the European Neighbourhood Policy, through a general overview of what this policy consists in. The most useful source that was used to elaborate on this subject is the website of the European Commission, which one of the major players in the implementation of the European Neighbourhood Policy. The European Neighbourhood policy consists of an important action in the external relations of the European Union, even though it is a quite recent policy, as it was first outlined in March 2003 in the Commission Communication on Wider Europe. [...]

[...] We will see in the third part how these evolutions evolved some changes in the budget given to the European Neighbourhood Policy. Now we can continue with our second part and see which are the countries concerned by the European Neighbourhood Policy, but also to what extend does Russia consist in a special partner for the European Union. II- The countries part of the European Neighbourhood Policy The European Neighbourhood Policy concerns 16 partners of the European Union. As we have said it before, the privileged relations between the European Union and its neighbours can only be built on a mutual commitment to common values, such as the market economy, the human rights and democracy, the rule of law, good governance or also sustainable development. [...]

[...] Finally we will study the instruments of the European Neighbourhood policy. Definition of the European Neighbourhood Policy In this first part we are going to focus on the historical developments of the European Neighbourhood policy, and why and what for it was created, as well as the principles on which it was founded. The European Neighbourhood policy was created to the other EU policies towards non-members states, as the links with the candidate countries, the policy towards potential candidates and EFTA. [...]

[...] As well as for the EC funding, the EIB lending has known a strong increase from 2007, as 12.4 billion euros are given to European Neighbourhood Policy as a whole, including 8.7 billion euros for the Mediterranean countries and 3.7 billion euros for Eastern Europe, Southern Caucasus and Russia. Now that we know how the European Neighbourhood policy is funded we can focus on the instruments and methods used to implement this policy. These instruments can be said to be quite similar to those used to support the transition process elsewhere. First the Country Reports are a starting point of the process. [...]

[...] Last but not least a ‘common space' is developed on research and education, including cultural, to capitalise on strong intellectual and cultural heritage. The fact that Russia is not included in the European Neighbourhood Policy is a real political sign from the European Union. The European Union considers Russia as a ‘Strategic Partner', to show that the powers, history and importance of Russia are taken in account by the European Union, and that it is not considered as a normal neighbour of the European Union. [...]