General overview of the European General overview of the European Neighbourhood Policy (ENP) and Neighbourhood Policy (ENP) and

the European Neighbourhood and the European Neighbourhood and Partnership Instrument (ENPI)Partnership Instrument (ENPI)

ENP policy seminar HBf and WWFENP policy seminar HBf and WWFBrussels, November 2006Brussels, November 2006

Paloma AgrasotPaloma AgrasotWWF Neighbourhood Policy WWF Neighbourhood Policy

Programme ManagerProgramme Manager

The "Wider Europe" Concept The "Wider Europe" Concept (COM(2003) 104 final)(COM(2003) 104 final)

2003: EU gets new neighbours. Aims at creating an enlarged area of political stability enlarged area of political stability

and prosperityand prosperity, a “friendly neighbourhood” to avoid “dividing lines”.

Based on the recognition of the common valuescommon values: rule of law, good governance, the respect for human rights, including minority rights, the promotion of good neighbourly relations, and the principles of market economy and sustainable development.

The "Wider Europe" Concept The "Wider Europe" Concept (COM(2003) 104 final)(COM(2003) 104 final)

The ENP embodies this concept

And foresees that the EU will act to promote regional cooperation and integration as preconditions for political stability, economic development and the reduction of poverty.

It will be an important geopolitical instrumentgeopolitical instrument..

Eastern bordersBelarus, Ukraine, Moldova,Armenia, Georgia, Azerbaijan, (Russia : special status)

Southern bordersSyria, Lebanon, Israel, Palestine, Jordan, Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Libya, Egypt

ENP countriesENP countries

Note: Turkey and the Balkans countries (seen as potential candidates) are not directly concerned but can benefit from cross border programmes.

ENP Policy frameworkENP Policy framework

Previous partnership and cooperation cooperation agreementsagreements with the partner country, when existing.

European Commission’s Strategy Paper of the European Commission’s Strategy Paper of the ENPENP (2004)(2004) and other COM communications.

National Action Plans that also include transnational component (there is no “regional action plans”!)

The implementation “steps”The implementation “steps”

Country report for each NCCountry report for each NC = the current situation in ENP counties, by DG Relex.

Action Plans Action Plans (EU and the NC Government)(EU and the NC Government) ENPI regulationENPI regulation (co-decision EP & Council, (co-decision EP & Council,

Commission)Commission) Country Strategy papers Country Strategy papers (Local authorities, EU (Local authorities, EU

Delegation, EC: DG RELEX leading, DG ENV advise)Delegation, EC: DG RELEX leading, DG ENV advise) National Indicative Programmes National Indicative Programmes (id)(id) Annual Action Plan Annual Action Plan (id)(id)

Tailor-madeTailor-made to reflect the particular circumstances and to reflect the particular circumstances and objectives of each partner country (nevertheless they objectives of each partner country (nevertheless they are all very similar…)are all very similar…)

Do not contain anything that does not have the Do not contain anything that does not have the full full approvalapproval of both sides, of both sides,

Requires a Requires a mutualmutual commitment to commitment to common valuescommon values between EU and ENP countriesbetween EU and ENP countries

All components are All components are NOT automatically NOT automatically implemented with EU funds.implemented with EU funds.

Action Plans (AP)Action Plans (AP)

Content of the Action PlansContent of the Action Plans

All have a common structurecommon structure, all give top priority to broad economic, governance and security issues;

Most have text that opens the way for promoting civil society access to information and participation in decision-making (though these words are not used!);

Environmental considerations are not integrated into sections like Transport and Energy;

Specific environmental themesenvironmental themes (forests, freshwater, marine, climate change, toxics, protected areas) are rarely mentioned.rarely mentioned.

The ENPI financial instrumentThe ENPI financial instrument

The ENPI is a “simplification”“simplification” of existing instruments :

replaces existing instruments for external policies (geographic and thematic);

is one of the three major geographical financial instruments of EU external policies in the financial perspective 2007-2013.

EU financial perspectivesEU financial perspectivesHeading 4: “The EU as a Global Partner”Heading 4: “The EU as a Global Partner”

Developt.

Co-op Instr. (new)

(Asia, Central Asia,

East-Jordan,

Latin America, ACP

plus thematic)

DCI

Europ. Neighbourhood

& Partnership

Instrument (new)

(TACIS, MEDA and

cross-border cooperation)

ENPI

Pre-Accession

Instrument (new)

(candidate and

potential candidate

Countries: the Balkans)

IPA

Horizontal Instruments

Instrument for Stability (new)

SIHumanitarian Aid Instrument

HAI

Macro-Financial Assistance

MFAI

Geographic Instuments (1 country)

The ENPI regulationThe ENPI regulation

Proposed by the Commission (Proposed by the Commission (when?when? 04), amended by the 04), amended by the EP and adopted by the Council (Oct 06)EP and adopted by the Council (Oct 06)

Large scope of assistance including development of civil Large scope of assistance including development of civil society and NGOs (Art 2), society and NGOs (Art 2),

Different types of programmes: Country, Multi- Country Different types of programmes: Country, Multi- Country (“trans-regional”) and Cross Border (Art 6)(“trans-regional”) and Cross Border (Art 6)

Strong emphasis on CB programmes (new!) Title III (Art 9 to Strong emphasis on CB programmes (new!) Title III (Art 9 to 11)11)

The ENPI regulation (2)The ENPI regulation (2)

Various types of beneficiaries: NGOs included (Art. 14);Various types of beneficiaries: NGOs included (Art. 14);

Easy access to financial intermediaries and international Easy access to financial intermediaries and international organisations (EIB, WB, UN, etc)organisations (EIB, WB, UN, etc)

Various types of measures (Art 15): twinning, sector Various types of measures (Art 15): twinning, sector budgetary support, micro-projects……(credible?)budgetary support, micro-projects……(credible?)

Financing of projects involving countries not covered by the Financing of projects involving countries not covered by the ENP (projects of global, regional or CBC nature) (Art. 9 and ENP (projects of global, regional or CBC nature) (Art. 9 and 27).27).

The ENPI regulation, and SD and The ENPI regulation, and SD and the environmentthe environment

Objectives: promoting sustainable development, Objectives: promoting sustainable development, environmental protection and good management of natural environmental protection and good management of natural resources, renewable energy, energy efficiency, clean resources, renewable energy, energy efficiency, clean transport; (whereas…)transport; (whereas…)

SD and environmental protection very detailed (nature SD and environmental protection very detailed (nature protection, freshwater, marine) in the scope of cooperation protection, freshwater, marine) in the scope of cooperation (Art. 2)(Art. 2)

The ENPI regulation, and SD and The ENPI regulation, and SD and the environment (2)the environment (2)

Consistency with community policy: one of the main Consistency with community policy: one of the main principles of the Regulation; (Art. 5)principles of the Regulation; (Art. 5)

No environmental conditionality at all, evaluation No environmental conditionality at all, evaluation requirements very poor with regards the overall ENPI (Art. requirements very poor with regards the overall ENPI (Art. 24) and the CBC (Art.9.7)24) and the CBC (Art.9.7)

So… greening the strategies, implementation rules and So… greening the strategies, implementation rules and guidelines is crucial!guidelines is crucial!

The ENPI moneyThe ENPI money An envelope of nearly 15 billion € was proposed by the

Commission; the EP proposed 17 billion €

The final figure is smaller: 11.181 M€ of which a min of 95 % for geographic programmes and up to 5 % for CBC programmes. (Art. 29)

Co-financing will be mandatory to promote ownership.

Management stays in the hands of the EC, assisted by a Committee (Art. 26)

The EP has a minor role: regular information but no decision (Art. 26)

Implementation tools:Implementation tools:

A.A. CountryCountry or multi-country programmesmulti-country programmes i) Covering assistance to one partner country; ii) addressing regional or sub regional cooperation between two or more partner countries, in which Member States may participate.

B.B. Cross-border cooperation programmesCross-border cooperation programmes covering cooperation between one or more Member States and one or more partner countries, taking place in regions adjacent to the shared part of the external border of the EU.

C.C. Thematic programmesThematic programmes, addressing one or more specific challenges which may be relevant to one or more Member States.

A) Country or multi-country A) Country or multi-country programmesprogrammes

CSP, RSP and NIP, RIP; Based on the APs but more focussed Commission has the leading roleCommission has the leading role, not shared with the EP or

the MS Prepared in some cases (Caucasus) parallel to the

negotiations of the APs Negotiated with the NC Governments. Risk is when these

don’t see civil society participation and sustainable development as a priority …

B) Cross Border ComponentB) Cross Border Component

Based on the INTERREG cross border experience between Third countries and MS.

INTERREG: Instrument financing the programmes on the EU side, combined in the past with external funding instruments.

CBC/ENP simplifies this system. From 2007: only one instrument for “both sides”.

“Joint programmes” covering regions of Member States and of partner countries sharing a common border.

Co-financed by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF).

C) Thematic programmesC) Thematic programmes Formerly in the draft ENPI regulation, now

under EU development cooperation instrument (DCI)

Programmes on the following issues: Democracy and Human Rights. Investing in People Environment and sustainable management of natural

resources including energy Non state actors and local authorities in development Food security Migration and asylum

The thematic programme on environment and sustainable

management of natural resources including energy

Established for the period 2007-13;

The programme will: provide support for global initiatives, support the capacity of developing countries government and civil society, provide operational support to Multilateral agreements and promote EC environmental policy abroad;

Fully applied to the DCI. In the ENPI context support will be focussed on biodiversity, climate change and energy.

To conclude: how it works “in To conclude: how it works “in reality”reality”

This should be the process for each NC (“lineaire”) … This should be the process for each NC (“lineaire”) … but is notbut is not

Regional processes should be similar … but are not or Regional processes should be similar … but are not or are not clear yetare not clear yet

Differences between the South (Mediterranean) and Differences between the South (Mediterranean) and the East (new context?)the East (new context?)

So much work to do!So much work to do!

Thank you,Thank you,

Paloma AgrasotPaloma Agrasot

WWF European Policy OfficeWWF European Policy Office

Neighbourhood Programme ManagerNeighbourhood Programme Manager

pagrasot@wwfepo.orgpagrasot@wwfepo.org

www.panda.org/euwww.panda.org/eu