For the first time, the EU engaged its partners states into the work involved in conducting such a review.
Extensive consultations bore fruit in the Communication “A new response to a changing neighborhood,” launched on May 25. This has redefined the EU’s approach to its partners, both in the south and the east. Subsequently, the Foreign Ministers of the EU on June 20 endorsed the new response to a changing Neighborhood in conclusions.
The new EU approach to its neighbors will be based on mutual accountability and a shared commitment to the universal values of liberty, democracy, respect for human rights, fundamental freedoms and the rule of law. These values are adhered to EU member states.
It is no coincidence that these are also the essential elements of the agreements already under negotiation with the EU’s Eastern partners. Equally important for Ukraine, these are the same values which any country wishing to become a member state of the EU needs to fully respect.
It is of particular importance for the Eastern Partnership that the ENP Review has underlined the right of every partner to choose the strategic direction of its relations with the EU. A set of common values of Article 2 of EU Treaty will remain at the heart of EU’s relations with all partners. At the same time it is up to them to choose the end-game – whether remain a partner or seek one day to become a member.
Differentiation is one of the most important features together with joint ownership of the reform plan. Such a partnership will complement the efforts of those countries that are willing and able to move further still, to closer political association and progressive economic integration into the EU internal market.
The new EU approach to its neighbors will be based on mutual accountability and a shared commitment to the universal values of liberty, democracy, respect for human rights, fundamental freedoms and the rule of law.
The EU agrees on the need to provide greater support to partners engaged in building deep and sustainable democracy, to boost inclusive economic development and to strengthen both the Eastern and the Southern dimensions of the ENP, in particular in the areas of democracy, human rights and the rule of law.
This increased support and its goals of stronger political cooperation and closer economic integration will depend on progress towards reforms. Support will be tailored to the needs of partners willing to undertake reforms and to cooperate effectively with the EU in all relevant domains, and may be reconsidered where reform does not take place.
These principles apply equally to all ENP partners. This understanding constitutes the basis of the “more for more” approach where EU response does not depend on geographical location but purely on the progress achieved. It creates conditions for fair competition where self-conscious choice and dedication to undertaking political, social and economic reforms assist both the EU and the partner states in achieving their strategic goals.
In the particular case of the Eastern Partnership, two main ideas complete this window of opportunity.
First, the Eastern Partnership is about creating the necessary conditions to accelerate political association and further economic integration between the EU and partner countries. The Eastern Partnership will seek to support political and socio-economic reforms in the partner countries, facilitating approximation to the EU.
The EU clearly recognizes the economic benefits of enhancing trade in goods and services, the potential for increased investment flows and the importance of progressive economic integration with the EU internal market. Consequently, the EU supports continuing to pursue integration through the establishment of Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Areas with ENP partners, as soon as conditions are met.
Ukraine leads the way here, being as committed as the EU to finalizing negotiations on the EU-Ukraine Association agreement, including Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area, by the time of the EU-Ukraine Summit, expected to take place in December.
It also remains a core objective of the Eastern Partnership to enhance the mobility of citizens in a secure environment.
It will promote mobility of citizens of the partner countries through visa facilitation and readmission agreements. In addition, the EU, in line with its Global Approach to Migration, will also take gradual steps towards full visa liberalization for individual partner countries – this process will be conducted on a case-by-case basis provided that conditions for well-managed and secure mobility are in place.
As regards visa dialogue with the EU, Ukraine is committed to further progress in the implementation of its Visa Liberalization Action Plan. This can then help serve as a model also for other Eastern partners, bearing in mind the specificity and progress of each country.
Partners should find valuable support for their reform agenda through the strengthening of participation in EU programs and agencies, and enhanced sector cooperation. In this context, Ukraine has taken a significant step forward by recent signature of a protocol enabling participation in EU programs.
For example, it is agreed that the EU and Ukraine will strengthen their energy partnership, with important benefits for both parties. We also agreed on the importance of further work toward integration of our energy markets, including by full implementation of the commitments that Ukraine has taken through the European Energy Community.
The strengthening of multilateral cooperation is a second important objective of the Eastern Partnership: to make this a reality, the ENP review creates new opportunities.
The multilateral platforms will help advance partner countries’ legislative and regulatory approximation to the EU acquis by allowing exchanges of experiences and best practice. The work program of the platforms will be reviewed to allow flexibility in responding to the needs of partner countries.
The importance of civil society’s involvement in partner countries’ reform agendas was highlighted in the ENP review, and the Eastern Partnership has already gone some way to acting on this.
The Eastern Partnership’s Civil Society Forum and its National Platforms are essential to promoting shared values, and their involvement in the Partnership’s implementation should be strengthened. Now, more can be done to support the development of civil society groups in partner countries.
The EU will shortly establish a Civil Society Facility and a European Endowment for Democracy. These will help to consolidate the role of civil society actors, including those which have not been able to benefit from EU support so far.
All these elements demonstrate that the ENP Strategic Review has succeeded in creating momentum for enhancing EU’s engagement in its Neighborhood as a whole and in the Eastern Partnership region in particular.
Ambitious goals may not be reached without equally ambitious commitment. That is why proposals for a considerable increase of funds for the Neighborhood were included by the Commission in the draft multiannual financial framework for 2014-2020.
Hard work and success of reforms remain an issue of joint responsibility of the Partners and the EU.
We look forward to the Eastern Partnership Summit in Warsaw on September 29-30, as an important moment to provide for new momentum for the Eastern Partnership. As partners make genuine further progress in carrying out internal reforms and adopting European standards, relations between them and the EU will become deeper and stronger.
Kostyantyn Gryshchenko is Ukraine’s Minister for Foreign Affairs. Stefan Fuele is the European Union’s Commissioner for Enlargement and European Neighborhood Policy.
