EU to fund regional reform, without ‘imposing ideas’

The EU has adopted a new approach in its neighbourhood policy driven by the Arab Spring and the new developments on the ground, with more financial aid approved for countries that are “willing to reform”, the EU head of mission in Amman said on Sunday.

Ambassador Joanna Wronecka announced that launching of the new European Neighbourhood Policy (ENP) and the Country Progress Reports (CPP) in Brussels on May 25 will set out the main priorities and directions of a revitalised ENP strategy seeking to strengthen bilateral and regional relationships between the EU and countries in its neighbourhood.

Towards that end, the union will allocate more funds to support reform, but with “more mutual accountability”.

She highlighted that 5.7 billion euros has already been allocated for the period 2011-2013, of which Jordan’s share amounts to 230 million euros. However, she added, the EU has allocated an additional funding of 1.24 billion euros transferred from other existing resources, and will now be made available in support of the ENP.

Wronecka said that the EU is willing to offer its expertise in democracy in terms of free elections, an objective judiciary system and freedom of expression with countries that are taking steps towards reform, adding that the EU is interested in boosting its cooperation with its neighbours but at the same time “has no intention to impose ideas on neighbours”.

“We share the same values for democracy, respect for human rights and freedom of expression. We look forward to working with countries willing to reform and we are ready to exchange and share our expertise with the beneficiaries,” Wronecka told reporters at a press conference, adding that the ENP has a new element based on opening direct dialogue with NGOs.

Catherine Ashton, EU high representative for foreign affairs and security policy/commission vice president, and Štefan Füle, EU commissioner for Enlargement and Neighbourhood Policy, on May 25 launched the ENP, confirming the EU’s determined and reinforced engagement with its neighbours, according to a press release by the mission.

The statement said the EU has agreed with Ashton’s proposal to increase the European Investment Bank lending to the Southern Mediterranean by 1 billion euros over the same period, adding that the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development backed her request to extend their operations into the MENA region, starting with Egypt.

“What we are launching today is a new approach. A partnership between peoples aimed at promoting and supporting the development of deep democracy and economic prosperity in our neighbourhood. This is in all our interests. We will make funding available for countries in our neighbourhood to support and match the speed of political and economic reform they wish to make,” Ashton said.

She added that the EU’s support is based on partnership, not on imposition, stressing that the relationship between the two sides is based on mutual accountability which cuts both ways where each side will hold the other to account against agreed goals and objectives.

Meanwhile, Füle emphasised that a number of EU neighbours, both in the east and in the south, are engaging in a transformation process out of which they want to emerge as more democratic and more prosperous societies, adding that the EU needs to respond with determination and ambition, through a new approach to the ENP, drawing the right lessons from experience so far and addressing the challenges of a fast-changing neighbourhood.

“The new approach involves a much higher level of differentiation. This is not a one-size-fits-all approach. Increased EU support to its neighbours is conditional. It will depend on progress in building and consolidating democracy and respect for the rule of law. The more and the faster a country progresses in its internal reforms, the more support it will get from the EU,” he added.

“The renewed ENP builds on the achievements of the EU’s Neighbourhood Policy since it was first launched in 2004, and responds to partner countries’ quests for more freedom and a better life. It offers new types of support for more sections of society, and introduces more incentives to pursue reform,” Wronecka said.

She added that the new policy further develops the partnership for democracy and shared prosperity with the Southern Mediterranean, which was agreed in March 2011, in immediate response to the upheaval and democratic aspiration currently being seen in North Africa.

jordantimes