Tuesday 24 June 2008

European Neighbourhood Policy: Progress Reports

The European Neighbourhood Policy (ENP) country progress reports were published by the European Commission (EC) on 3rd April 2008, accompanied by a Commission communication on the implementation of the European Neighbourhood Policy in 2007.

The EC’s main conclusions from the progress reports are that since the end of 2006, economic integration has been progressing; mobility with certain countries has been facilitated; cooperation on justice and the fight against organised crime has increased; energy cooperation contributes to more energy security; transport links have been strengthened and countries in the European neighbourhood are becoming increasingly involved in EU programmes in research, innovation and education.

The reports are available for Armenia, Azerbaijan, Egypt, Georgia, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Morocco, Moldova, Palestine, Tunisia and Ukraine.

The reports were met with disappointment from certain groups, including the Euro-Mediterranean Human Rights Network (EMHRN), which called for the establishment of a mechanism for the systematic and public monitoring of the ENP Action Plans, allowing for clear benchmarks on which to base future Country Progress Reports.

Links:
All EC ENP reference documents: http://ec.europa.eu/world/enp/documents_en.htm
European Commission progress reports: http://ec.europa.eu/world/enp/documents_en.htm#3
EMHRN response: http://www.euromedrights.net/pages/511/news/focus/52201

Information provided by Rebecca Steel, TRIALOG

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