EuFoA welcomes EP Resolution on European Neighbourhood Policy

Key points of the EP resolution text:
The resolution “welcomes the progress in relations between the EU and neighbouring countries within the ENP” and stresses “that this process should lead to a further enhancement of the EU’s ties with neighbouring countries – all of them have the potential to be the closest of political allies for the EU”. The Association Agreements are seen as an important tool for stimulating reforms in the partner countries. The need to provide an adequate level of EU funding for cooperation with the neighbourhood is underlined in this context, a point particularly important for countries who, like Armenia, cannot base their economic growth on the exploitation of natural resources. The resolution specifically welcomed the work of the High-level EU Advisory Group, a unique format first implemented in Armenia which embeds EU experts at the highest level of all key ministries. The idea has recently been replicated in Moldova and the EP invited the Commission to offer such assistance to more eastern countries.
The resolution notes the EU’s stronger engagement in security issues in the Eastern Neighbourhood and calls “on the VP/HR [Catherine Ashton] and the EEAS [the new European External Action Service] to step up their involvement in finding a solution to the protracted conflicts in Transnistria and the South Caucasus based on the principles of international law – in particular non-use of force, self-determination and territorial integrity” in the framework of the already existing negotiating formats, particularly those of the OSCE. In this context, the EP makes a very important call on “the HR/VP and the EEAS to develop more confidence-building measures and programmes, including the launching of new missions and communication strategies to the people and the consideration of pragmatic initiatives and innovative approaches, such as informal contacts and consultations with the societies of the breakaway territories”. This call is particularly relevant for Armenia, as all breakaway regions already enjoy such programmes, with only Nagorno-Karabakh being largely excluded and isolated. With this call, the EP acknowledges that humanitarian aid and the promotion of civil rights in those areas do not interfere in the peace negotiations and should not be conditioned or inhibited by the conflicting parties. In fact, they are simply about better living conditions for the people concerned and generally create a climate which is less radical and more favourable for conflict resolution. This is in line with a long-standing demand by EuFoA and most other international and domestic NGOs focussing on Armenia and the EU’s Eastern Neighbourhood.
*Belarus is not included in the ENP but in the Eastern Partnership (EaP) programme to which the resolution also refers.

Please click here to download the press release in PDF format.