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EU in the World

5. Europe's Neighbours

The EU launched the European Neighbourhood Policy (ENP) in 2004 to prevent new dividing lines after the ‘big bang enlargement’. At the same time, it revised ties with countries across the Mediterranean region, from Morocco to Syria.

In 2007, funding instruments including MEDA and TACIS were replaced by the European Neighbourhood and Partnership Instrument (ENPI). The ENPI is funded to the tune of €12 billion (2007-2013), representing a 32% increase.

The ENP offers neighbours a "privileged relationship", conditional on respect for human rights, sustainable development, economic and governmental reform. Targets are made under each state's ENP Action Plan and measured against their annual progress reports.

Eastern Europe and Caucasus

Russia has been a prickly neighbour for the enlarged EU. Tensions mounted in 2004 with the expansion of NATO into Balkan and Baltic countries, along with plans to install US missile defense shields in the Czech Republic and Poland. This fact was highlighted in Russia's security strategy of May 2009, along with the potential for conflict over Arctic resources).

In May 2009, the 'Eastern Partnership' (EaP), covering the EU and Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Republic of Moldova and Ukraine was launched on a Swedish-Polish initiative. The move was quickly dubbed a “partnership against Russia” by President Medvedev. EC President Barroso responded that it was a plan for stability, “against nobody”.

North Africa and Middle East

The southern and eastern shores of the Mediterranean have long faced violent unrest. This is fuelled by the Israeli occupation, the stalled 'Road Map', and a concatenation of terrorist attacks. These spilled over into Europe in 2004 and 2005, hitting Spain and the UK respectively. Finding the right ‘policy mix’ is therefore crucial to EU security.

The Union for the Mediterranean (UfM), covering the EU plus 16 states in North Africa, Middle East and the Balkans, was launched in July 2008. This was vigorously pushed by French President Nicholas Sarkozy, but a follow-up meeting in January 2009 was cancelled after the war in Gaza.

Need for Tailored Tools

The European Policy Centre (EPC) argues that the ENP is neither foreign policy nor enlargement, but a one-sized tool that fits neither region. To grow closer to Europe, eastern countries need to consolidate democracy and fight corruption, says the EPC, while southern countries need to encourage democracy and fight terrorism.

The frameworks are not fit for purpose, argues the EPC, branding the EaP “schizophrenic” and the UfM “incoherent”. It adds that political declarations will not bear fruit until the EU confronts key questions: “Will EaP countries ever be eligible for EU membership?” and “Can the EU seek lasting reforms while courting authoritarian regimes in the UfM?”

Fly High or Swing Low?

Amnesty International has criticised the "human rights deficit" of Europe's southern policy; but Human Rights Watch argues that steady, low-level work has its own benefits. In May 2009, Joe Stork of HRW told EJC: “in this line of work, in trying to push for improvements in human rights practices, sometimes flying under the radar can be more effective”.

Two examples bear this out. First, the EU supports human rights defenders -- notably in the ENP countries -- by funding 11 emergency projects via the European Instrument for Democracy and Human rights. Partners include Reporters without Borders (RWB) and Protection International (PI).

Second, the European Neighbourhood Journalism Network (ENJN), run by the European Journalism Centre and funded by the European Commission, promotes media freedom in Europe's neighbourhood. The EJC provides free training to journalists while reinforcing networks among reporters, editors, and publishers in the countries surrounding Europe.