EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Federica Mogherini and EU Commissioner for European Neighbourhood Policy and Enlargement Johannes Hahn on Wednesday launched consultation on the future of the European Neighbourhood Policy (ENP). The ENP was last reviewed in 2011.
"Our region has changed a lot since 2011 both to the east and the south. We need to review our relations, our partnership. The EU has a vital interest in building strong partnerships with its neighbours," Mogherini told a press conference.
"Recent developments in the region have increased the challenges we all face: from economic pressures to irregular migration and security threats. We need a strong policy to be able to tackle these issues. We also need to understand better the different aspirations, values and interests of our partners," she said.
She noted that the aim is to consult as widely as possible both with partners in the neighbouring countries and with stakeholders across the EU until the end of June. After this consultation, a report setting out proposals for the future direction of the ENP will follow in the autumn.
On his part Hahn told the joint press conference that "It's in the EU's own interests to develop peace, stability and prosperity on its borders. The review will help us work more effectively to achieve these goals.
The ENP was designed in 2003 to develop closer relations between the EU and its neighbouring countries. It covers to the South: Algeria, Egypt, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Libya, Morocco, Palestine, Syria and Tunisia; to the East: Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine.