Press Release: European Neighbourhood Policy: the next steps

The Commission recommended an intensification of relations with Egypt and Lebanon, and Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia, based on Country Reports on all five countries published by the European Commission on 2 March 2005. On the basis of these reports, the Council was invited to decide whether to develop Action Plans under the European Neighbourhood Policy (ENP) with the three Southern Caucasus countries: the decision had already been taken to negotiate Action Plans with Egypt and Lebanon, although for Lebanon the timing would depend on the evolution of the political situation. The purpose of these Action Plans would be to define a joint agenda for relations with the EU for the following three to five years, with the objective of deepening political co operation and economic integration.