The European Neighbourhood Policy Politics Essay

The European region Policy Politics EssayBecause of the big-bang enlargement to the East, in May 2004 the European join acquired ten natural member states and simultaneously several(prenominal) bracing neighbours. At about the same time, it began to flesh out a European vicinity Policy (ENP) to make sure that the newly enlarged Union would be sur goed by a ring of friends.1Specific bothy, in exhibit 2003 the Commission prefaceed its Communication Wider Europe Neighbourhood A new textile for relations with our east and Southern Neighbours,2fol get-goed by a Strategy penning on the ENP in May 2004.3In general, the ENP is the EUs mechanism for ensuring the principal(prenominal)tenance of overlap value beyond its b raises. In other words, it earmarks the EU with additional tools for nurture new neighbours. Its objectives like stability, prosperity and co-operation help the EU to initiate a privileged relationship with its neighbours date it as wellhead as offers man y other advantages to them, twist upon a mutual commitment with them.On the other hand, it must be underlined that the EU faces some daunting challenges in its relations with its neighbours. Because of this, not solely the ENPs aim to bring some order to the EUs relations with its neighbours merely in any case the effort to develop a privileged and mutual relationship betwixt them, argon prevented in a corking extent. So, does the ENP really provide the suitable structure for bundleing with the main challenges?This essay bequeath first cede and analyse the substance of the ENP. It leave behind then scrutinize its events and, finally it will criticize and evaluate the ENP taking into make outation the invectives that it offers and the challenges that the EU faces in its relations with its neighbours.The substance of the ENPThe ENP framework is proposed to the 16 of EUs closest neighbours Algeria, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Egypt, Georgia, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Libya , Moldova, Morocco, Occupied Palestinian Territory, Syria, Tunisia and Ukraine. Russia has its move special relationship with the EU and it is not part of the ENP. More precisely, the ENP was developed in 2004, with the objective of avoiding new dividing lines betwixt the enlarged EU and its neighbours and instead strengthening the prosperity, stability and auspices of all.4The 2004 enlargement brought the EU closer to the easterly and as a result created an instant need to ensure that the wider locality was stable to avoid the risk of instability overflowing into the larger EU.5As the European Commission has noted Existing differences in living standards crosswise the Unions borders with its neighbours may be accentuated as a result of faster evolution in the new Member States than in their external neighbours common challenges in fields such as the environment, public health, and the prevention of and fight against organize crime will take a leak to be addressed efficie nt and make border management will be essential both to harbor our share borders and to facilitate legitimate bargain and passage.6Moreover, the enlargement fatigue was complete and the EU wanted to fend off yet another round of enlargement. Hence, the ENP was launched to fill out with all of these challenges.7The ENP also includes the countries of the entropyern Mediterranean, though the dividing line amidst the EU and these countries was not shifted with the 2004 enlargement, and the problems posed by those borders perk up long been a concern. The southern Mediterranean countries were included in the ENP to balance the EUs southern and eastern proportionalitys, responding to concerns of southern member and non-member states.8The ENP, which is primarily a bilateral polity among the EU and each partner country, is further enriched with regional and multilateral co-operation initiatives the Eastern Partnership (launched in Prague in May 2009), the Union for the Mediterran ean (the Euro-Mediterranean Partnership, one time known as the Barcelona Process, re-launched in Paris in July 2008), and the Bneediness sea Synergy (launched in Kiev in February 2008).9The ENP is first and fore close to an search to create good neighbours, who conform not only to EU values ( body politic and human rights, rule of equity, good boldness, marketplace economy principles and sustainable development) precisely also the EU standards and laws in specific economic and social areas. A secondary aspect of the ENP is to prevent the return of new dividing lines as mentioned earlier, done a variety of means including more cross-border cooperation.10Specifically, in attempting to stop the emergence of new dividing lines in Europe, the Commission has two broad approaches firstly, to encourage and jump out financially the inclusion of the neighbours in European networks of all kinds such as transport, research and education, energy, environment, culture and so on and, sec ondly, to foster cross-border cooperation and specially cover projects to link neighbouring regions across the EUs new border. The Commission is simplifying as well the hurting of such programmes, which has been complicated.11In this point, it must be mentioned that, the ENP remains distinct from the transit of enlargement. However, it does not prejudge for European neighbours how their relationship with the EU may develop in future in accordance with Treaty provisions. agree to the ENP framework, the EU offers all but institutions to the neighbours as much it can do without real enlarging.12Plus, in early 2004 the Commission began preparing Actions Plans for the most advanced neighbours. The Action Plans are central to the ENP (12 of them were agreed) and they plenty out an agenda of political and economic see the begins with pithy and medium-term priorities of 3 to 5 years. The ENP is not yet fully activated for Algeria, Belarus, Libya and Syria since those waste not ag reed Action Plans.13The Action Plans are supposed to be differentiated according to the various neighbours specific circumstances, and drawn up subsequently held with each neighbour. Promoting joint ownership of the plans should better ensure that the neighbours will bear on the objectives set out in them. Each country individually determines the character and strength of its relationship with the EU.14In addition, other political objectives prominent in the Action Plans are cooperation in the fight against terrorism and on non-proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, and ensuring international justice by means of tolerate for the International male factor Court.15Furthermore, from January 2007 the European Neighbourhood Policy and Strategic Partnership with Russian confederacy are financed through a single agent the European Neighbourhood and Partnership Instrument (ENPI). It is designed to target sustainable development and nearness to EU policies and standards liv elihooding the agreed priorities in the ENP Action Plans, as well as Strategic Partnership with Russia. In detail, it encourages economic consolidation and political cooperation mingled with the EU and the neighbours, promotes sustainable development and poverty reduction, and addresses security and stability challenges posed by geographical proximity to the EU.16The results of the ENPThe ENP has shown that it offers a solid solid ground for strengthening ties between the EU and its neighbours. It has opened the indemnity to all eastern and southern neighbours who share EUs commitments to democracy, open society and economic prosperity. And, as countries go further down the reform path more possibilities (more financial support, integration with the EUs internal market, participation in the EUs policies and programmes) for closer cooperation with the EU open up to them.17Since the ENP policy was proposed, good progress has been made on developing and implementing the main instr uments of the ENP the presentation of 12 Country Reports, the adoption of 12 ENP Action Plans, writ of execution and monitoring through relevant subcommittees, adoption of a new instrument (Neighbourhood Investment preparedness -NIF) to better provide assistance to these countries in support of the objectives agreed in the Action Plans.18The NIF was established at the end of 2007 and it is a significant source of funding for the neighbourhood. The Facility funds projects of common following focussing mainly on energy, environment and transport. A Governance Facility has been set up too. It provides additional support to countries that have made most progress in implementing governance reforms.19Moreover, for the fiscal Framework 2007-2013, about 12 billion in EU funding are available to support partners reforms, an increase of 32% in real terms as compared to 2000-2006 Financial Framework. Until 31 December 2006, EU assistance to the countries of the ENP and to Russia was provid ed under various geographical programmes including TACIS (for eastern neighbours and Russia) and MEDA (for southern Mediterranean neighbours), as well as thematic programmes such as European Initiative for Democracy and Human Rights (EIDHR).20Additionally, new forms of technical assistance have been extended to ENP partners. A large chassis of twinning and Technical Assistance and Information Exchange (TAIEX) arrangements, is in posture with countries across the neighbourhood.21Neighbourhood countries joined also the EUs programmes and agencies like the Competitiveness and existence Programme.22Furthermore, it must be stated that, to the east the reforming government of Moldova is being rewarded with generous aid. In the meantime, the EU has frozen assets and restricted visas for Belaruss leaders after(prenominal) they rig elections and suppressed protests.23A border monitoring mission was also in place along the Moldovan-Ukraine border to help address the frozen combat in Tran snistria while an arranging on easier visa procedures for Ukrainian citizens and others was in the works.24In May 2011 the High Representative of the Union for Foreign personal matters and Security Policy and the European Commission suggested a new policy response to a changing EU neighbourhood based on more for more, less for less, a mutual accountability and a shared commitment to the universal values of human rights, democracy and the rule of law and involving a much higher level of differentiation.25New policys items are money, market access, and mobility. This approach has been authorized as well by the European parliament and the European Council.26The Economist justified the new policy as follows Policies should be better tailored for each neighbour. Europe cannot change geography, so it will have to deal with countries on its rim, democratic or autocratic. But in its circle of neighbours, it must always demonstrate that its best friends are the democrats.27 on this line, the EU responded to the Arab Spring and sent an obvious message of unity and support to the populate of the southern Mediterranean. Moreover, it responded to EU eastern neighbours efforts towards closer political experience and deeper economic integration.28The evaluation of the ENPUndoubtedly, the ENP should be seen as one of innovative efforts undertaken so far in the history of the European Communities external relations. This exposes it to a great deal of controversy in a vast diversity of opinions thereupon. Indeed, the ENP has been evaluated in most different ways, from very critical in which it is seen as an powerless project, to statements saying that this is one of the EUs foreign policy that really works correctly.If we take into account the same results of the ENP, we realize that it does promote good relations between the enlarged EU and its neighbours. It definitely has an interest in promoting prosperity, stability and security among its neighbours by working with them to support their transition. But what about the group of people who support that the ENP is an ineffective project? Why do they strongly debate it?Those who believe that the ENP is an inadequate policy claim that the EU has to deal with third heartrending challenges that of confronting the ghost of enlargement, which haunts EU relations with its neighbours, the challenge of influencing positively the serious problems distressing several of those neighbours and, that of building a neighbourhood with some degree of cohesiveness.29The unavoidable consequences of admitting some countries to full social status of the EU and excluding others produce insiders and outsiders. This dimension inside the ENP, make awkward bedfellows, especially given that east European countries are reluctantly seen as potential member states while the Mediterranean countries have not been considered appropriate for EU membership.30The hope of EU membership is a major incentive for reform amongst mem bers.As it has already been mentioned Europes neighbourhood policy remains distinct from the process of enlargement as it offers countries everything but institutions. And this does not mean as stated earlier that neighbourhood countries have no chance of being official members of the EU. For instance, Georgia, Moldova, and Ukraine could be considered as candidates for EU membership at some point in the future. All have experienced a democratization process and have moved forth from the direct political specify of the Russian Federation.31Nevertheless, these states represent a low priority on the enlargement agenda because of the likely impact on the EUs budget, the poor state of their economies, and the need to strengthen political reforms at station before considering accession. So, there is a large development gap between the EU and some potential members, which makes meeting membership conditions increasingly difficult. Thus, the EU is becoming more diverse.32The second chall enge facing the EU is how to deal with countries of concern. Generally speaking, the challenges facing EUs neighbours often go beyond their borders. It is a fact that, the partner countries are faced with poverty, unemployment, mixed economic performance, corruption, weak governance and frozen conflicts in certain regions.33Countries of concern include Belarus and Libya, but several other neighbours like Syria are also problematic mainly because of their lack of respect for human rights and democratic principles and, because of security concerns. Even more, the list of sites of conflict in the Middle East is tragically long. In this point, someone could oddment if the ENP gives the EU more leverage or more possibilities to exercise influence in these cases than it had before.34For fostering fundamental reform in the neighbours, Action Plans should provide a real incentive for reform. The truth is that, substantiate benchmarks linked to clear benefits are being absent in Action Pl ans. There has to be a real effort so that Action Plans lend a serious concentration to the ENP and enable the focus to be on specific, measured and time-bound objectives.35The third challenge for the EU is how to connect the dissimilar countries and regions included in the ENP. The ENP is a policy based on strengthening the bilateral cogitate between the EU and each neighbour a policy for neighbours kinda than a neighbourhood policy. And while there is an undeniable need for reform in the neighbours, there is also an undeniable need for all the neighbours to fall in with one another. In relation to this statement, we realize that strengthening the multilateral and/or regional elements in the ENP would help to tackle not just the cross-border problems that restore the EU but also those that affect all of the neighbours.36Additionally, some analysts consider that the new policy to a changing EU neighbourhood after the emergence of the Arab Spring, based on more economic benefit s for more democracy with the new policys items (money, market access, and mobility) is not bold enough to make an all important(predicate) difference.37Regarding money, at times of austerity there is no more for foreign-policy aims while concerning markets, many unification African countries already enjoy free trade in industrial goods, and the southern Europeans want to restrict some inelegant products. As for mobility, with anti-immigrant parties gaining ground, few governments are ready to open up to north Africans.38There is little doubt that the Arab awakening was a priority for European foreign policy in 2011. Europe used a accumulation of instruments, including active diplomacy, special envoys, sanctions and military action. However, its technocratic response fell dramatically victimize of Marshall Plan for which some initially called.39Plus, the Arab Spring has shed light on the close personal and business ties between governing elites in EU member states and their Med iterranean counterparts. For example, Frances Foreign Minister Michle Alliot-Marie was strained to resign due to public outrage over her links to the ousted Ben Ali governance in Tunisia.40In 2008, the EU tried to negotiate an association agreement with Libya and earmarked 60mln in ENPI funds to the country over the 2011-2013 period.41To sum up, in the south the promotion of democracy and the rule of law has been an illusion. Arab neighbours have no the intake of returning back to Europe while eastern neighbours, know that the EU is not ready to expand beyond the Balkans. Without the lure of membership, the EU struggles to finger effective foreign-policy.ConclusionsThe ENP is a useful policy promoting stability, prosperity, welfare and security in the post 2004 era between the EU and its neighbours. But is the ENP sufficient to deal with the aforesaid challenges? This challenge is undoubtedly enormous and requires more ambitious policy response. Not only should the ghost of enla rgement be vanished but also the serious problems distressing several of the neighbours. Furthermore, the EU should try hard through the ENP to build a neighbourhood with some degree of cohesiveness.As we all know, on 12 October 2012 the Nobel Prize Committee decided to award the 2012 Nobel quietness Prize to the European Union for over six decades contribution to the packaging of peace and reconciliation, democracy and human rights in Europe. Although the EU is at present undergoing serious economic difficulties and considerable social unrest the award served as a reminder that the EU had largely brought peace to a unblemished which tore itself apart in two world wars in which tens of millions died. According to this, the EU should focus on what it sees as the EUs most important result the successful struggle for peace and reconciliation and for democracy and human rights.No one would disagree that one way for the EU to enforce its struggles for achieving the aforementioned goal s, is through the ENP. It is an ambitious policy, which has the potential to make an enormous difference to the prosperity and stability of both the EU and its neighbours. So, the EU has to strengthen the ENP in order to provide concrete and credible incentives for reform. Hence, a strong ENP has to be set out. The vision contained in the ENP the real and mutual relation of EU to its nearby friends and vice versa should be a reality for the stability and wealth of both.