Five new countries could join EU’s ‘neighbourhood’

Date: 10/02/05

The European Commission is to propose the expansion of the EU's 'European Neighbourhood Policy' to five new countries.

Next month the Commission will produce its initial analysis on the state of relations with Azerbaijan, Armenia, Georgia, Lebanon and Egypt with a view to starting bilateral talks. Negotiations are expected to take around six months.

Although not yet completed, work is being finalised on the five 'country papers', the initial stage of developing 'joint action plans' with the countries.

The reports will detail the current political, economic and social situation in the country as well as listing agreements already in force and their stage of implementation.

The five plans are expected to be ready in time for a meeting of EU foreign ministers on 16 March when they are expected to give the go-ahead for drafting the action plans.

The action plans will set out a range of concrete steps to deepen political and economic ties.

Economic issues will constitute a large portion of the final deals with the EU pressing for trade liberalisation and financial regulation, with the eventual aim of integration into the EU's internal market.

According to diplomats, exploratory negotiations have already begun and senior Commission officials have travelled to some of the countries concerned.

For the three countries of the southern Caucasus, regional co-operation, energy and the resolution of border disputes are likely to be the crucial issues to be discussed.

Originally left out of the policy, the three countries lobbied intensely at the highest level and were finally admitted last May.

For Georgia, in particular, deepening political ties with the EU will be important in the domestic context.

For Egypt, democratic reform, poverty reduction and trade issues, as well as closer co-ordination with the EU on the Middle East peace process, are likely to top the agenda.

In December final agreements were concluded with Ukraine, the Palestinian Authority, Israel, Moldova, Morocco, Tunisia and Jordan in the framework of the Neighbourhood Policy.

The European Commission is to propose the expansion of the EU's 'European Neighbourhood Policy' to five new countries. In March 2005 the Commission will produce its initial analysis on the state of relations with Azerbaijan, Armenia, Georgia, Lebanon and Egypt with a view to starting bilateral talks. Negotiations are expected to take around six months.

EU: EEAS: European Neighbourhood Policy http://eeas.europa.eu/topics/european-neighbourhood-policy-enp_en

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