The FINANCIAL — The EU on March 26 released its annual reports assessing the implementation of the European Neighbourhood Policy (ENP) with the 16 partner countries in the East and South and providing recommendations for the year ahead, according to EU Neighbourhood Info Centre.
2014 saw the signing of Association Agreements with Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine, democratic transition in Tunisia and strengthened relations with Morocco. But security and humanitarian problems persisted in both regions and significant support was mobilised to help Lebanon and Jordan cope with the increasing effects of the Syria crisis.
“2014 was a year of major challenges: armed conflicts in Ukraine, atrocities and human rights violations by terrorist groups in the Middle East and in North Africa, and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict,” said EU foreign affairs chief Federica Mogherini, adding these developments had been a test for the ENP. “The EU is determined to step up its engagement with our partners across the region on political, economic and security cooperation.”
Commissioner for Neighbourhood Policy Johannes Hahn said the conclusions drawn in the reports would assist the EU in evaluating its approach towards the region: “We are currently consulting widely on the way ahead for this policy with a view to developing more effective ways of working with these key partners for the benefit of the EU and our neighbours themselves.”
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