Strengthening the European Neighbourhood Policy

Commissioner for External Relations and European Neighbourhood Policy, Benita Ferrero-Waldner, today sets out new proposals to strengthen and further develop the European Neighbourhood Policy (ENP)[1]. The first 18 months of implementation of the ENP have shown good results. The new Communication sets out to increase the impact of the policy, by proposing ways that the EU can help partners who are willing to reform to do this faster and better, and provide incentives to convince those who are still hesitant. The new proposals are accompanied by progress reports on the Neighbourhood partners whose ENP Action Plans began to be implemented in 2005[2]. The Communication will feed into work during the incoming German Presidency in the first half of 2007.