EU to boost ties with its neighbours
Ministers from the 27-nation EU and its 16 neighbours are gathering in Brussels for the first ever meeting designed to give a new impetus to the €12 billion-strong policy of mutual cooperation. Trade, mobility, energy and immigration will be high on the agenda.
"I believe it is time to bring together all partners to exchange ideas on the strengthening of this policy", EU neighbourhood policy commissioner Benita Ferrero-Waldner said in a statement issued before the meeting.
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She added that Monday's (3 September) conference would "underline the EU's determination to develop individual and differentiated partnership that reflects the interest of each neighbour".
The European Neighbourhood Policy, tailored to create a ring of peaceful and economically advanced states around the EU's borders, covers 16 countries – Algeria, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Egypt, Georgia, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Libya, Moldova, Morocco, the Palestinian Authority, Syria, Tunisia and Ukraine.
Each state is offered a privileged relationship, including the chance to integrate into the EU's 500-million-strong internal market on condition they commit to democracy and reforms in a wide range of fields.
Since the 2004 enlargement, the bloc's Neighbourhood Policy has become its main external priority. Its aim is to avoid the emergence of new dividing lines between the enlarged Union and its neighbours.
One of the big issues is immigration from these countries to the EU.
Speaking to Germany's Die Welt newspaper, Ms Ferrero-Waldner said the EU is planning to make it easer for migrants to get work in the EU for a set period and based on need in different member states.
"The aim of this strategy is to curb illegal immigration, boost legal migration and possibly also to counteract the lack of labour in certain economic sectors in the EU," said the commissioner.
Some €12 billion have been put aside for the ENP between 2007 and 2013, which is over 30 percent more than in the previous budget period.
Support among EU citizens
However, while high on Brussels's political agenda, it finds little echo among EU citizens.
A recent poll suggests that 54 percent of Europeans show little interest in what is happening outside the bloc's borders.
On the other hand, a clear majority express firm support for the political aspects of the policy, with 73 percent of people saying that the EU can help to promote democracy in these countries.
In addition, 89 percent of Europeans consider it important or very important to work together with neighbouring countries on tackling terrorism and organised crime.
Similarly, 86 percent support cooperation on environment and energy, 81 percent on education and 71 percent on immigration.
But 45 percent of EU citizens worry that promoting reforms in the neighbourhood could endanger the bloc's own peace and stability.
According to EU commissioner Ferrero-Waldner, the aim to strengthen ties with the EU's neighbours "is a win-win policy".
"I hope that more and more people will appreciate that this policy makes us all more secure and that the advantages the European Neighbourhood Policy brings are well worth the cost", Ms Ferrero-Waldner said in response to the poll.