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Communication from the Commission “A Strong European Neighbourhood Policy”. Preliminary conclusions for Moldova
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The European Commission released on December 5, 2007 a new communication titled “A Strong European Neighbourhood Policy”. The Moldovan mass media did not cover this document much. It was released a year after the communications from the Commission on strengthening the European Neighbourhood Policy (ENP) and on the general approach to enable ENP partner countries to participate in Community agencies and Community programmes, launched on December 4, 2006.
The Communication reiterates that the premise of the ENP is that the European Union (EU) has a vital interest in seeing greater economic development, stability and better governance in its neighbourhood. The communication stresses the differentiation principle on which the ENP is based. This way, it notes, the ENP is a partnership for reform that offers “more for more.”
Further, the Communication notes the main progresses achieved within the ENP since the last communications launched on December 4, 2006. In particular, allocations have been made under the Governance Facility; the Neighbourhood Investment Facility is being established; a regional dimension for the East, the “Black Sea Synergy” has been launched; progress has been made towards opening up EC programmes and agencies to ENP partners. However, the Commission notes that a great deal remains to be done and further efforts from the EU side are necessary to make a reality of the proposals already made to strengthen the ENP.
It stressed that the focus in 2008 must be on implementation of existing commitments, and notes that a further communication accompanied by country-specific progress reports, in spring 2008, will analyse where further action is needed by ENP partner countries.
Beyond these general issues, other matters must be stressed in the context revealed by the Commission Communication:
- The “enhanced agreement” currently negotiated with Ukraine, the ongoing discussions with Morocco on an “advanced status” and with Israel on an upgrading of relations demonstrate that the differentiation principle is being used “on the ground”.
- Feasibility studies exploring the possibility of free trade agreements with Georgia and Armenia will be concluded in 2008. Although it will benefit of the Autonomous Trade Preferences (ATP) starting 2008, Moldova could also seek a feasibility study, albeit such a research was worked out a couple of years ago and it revealed that Moldova was not ready to join the free trade area with the EU. But many data of the problem have changed since then. The demand should be formulated in the light of the ATP implementation findings, which shall be perfect for this purpose.
- Israel will be the first ENP partner to participate in the Competitiveness and Innovation Programme. It will be likely followed by Morocco and Ukraine. The Commission is negotiating appropriate protocols with these countries. Moldova could consider the opportunity to participate in this programme and to explore the possibilities of cooperation with the European Patent Office.
- In the interest of own citizens, Moldova could seek bilateral agreements with Romania concerning the local border traffic and in order to enjoy the flexibilities provided for under the Schengen acquis. The relations with Romania are counterproductive for such developments at present.
- The next conference to bring together the EU and ENP participating states similar to the September 3, 2007 Brussels conference will take place in Georgia in 2008, while the Ukrainian capital of Kiev will host the Black Sea Synergy Ministerial Meeting in February 2008. Moldova should follow these examples and seek the host of the next events of such kind. Such apparently unimportant initiatives may be unbeatable advantages in the race with other ENP participants.
- Considering the recent allocations of 28 million and 22 million Euros made to Morocco and Ukraine under the Governance Facility, the EU regards these countries as “champions” of the progress in 2007 in implementing the governance priorities. “More for more”!
Finally, the Commission Communication answers the question regarding the future EU-Moldova relations, but on a short term. It recommends a roll-over of the current Action Plan on Moldova for one year along with similar documents on Ukraine and Israel, which will reach the end of their term in early 2008. Hence, the initial expectations were too ambitious. In this way, the famous thesis by C. Hill capability-expectations gap[1] is becoming more valid for the ENP, too.
- ↑ Hill, C. (1993), “The Capability-Expectations Gap, or Conceptualizing Europe’s International Role”, Journal of Common Market Studies, 31(3), pp. 305–328.