8 European Neighbourhood Policy
| (a)
(26155)
16164/04
COM(04) 789
(b)
(26156)
16166/04
COM(04) 792
(c)
(26157)
16162/04
COM(04) 788
(d)
(26158)
16167/04
COM(04) 796
(e)
(26159)
16218/04
COM(04) 787
(f)
(26160)
15991/04
COM(04) 791
(g)
(26174)
16178/04
COM(04) 790
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Draft Action Plan for the Palestinian Authority
Draft Action Plan for Tunisia
Draft Action Plan for Morocco
Draft Action Plan for Jordan
Draft Action Plan for Moldova
Draft Action Plan for Ukraine
Draft Action Plan for Israel
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| Legal base | — |
| Department | Foreign and Commonwealth Office
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| Basis of consideration | Minister's letter of 16 January 2005
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| Previous Committee Report | HC 38-ii (2004-05), para 9 (8 December 2004); see also (25708) 9921/04: HC 42-xxii (2003-04), para 22 (9 June 2004) and (25744-50) —: HC 42-xxiv (2003-04), para 6 (23 June 2004)
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| Discussed in Council | 13 December 2004 GAERC
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| Committee's assessment | Politically important
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| Committee's decision | Cleared (decision reported on 8 December 2004), but information on progress awaited
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Background
8.1 The European Neighbourhood Policy (ENP) proposes a new framework
for relations with the eastern European neighbours of the enlarged
EU (Ukraine, Belarus and Moldova), its southern Mediterranean
neighbours (Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Egypt, Israel, Palestinian
Authority, Jordan, Syria and Lebanon) and three countries of the
southern Caucasus (Georgia, Armenia and Azerbaijan). A closer
relationship with the EU is offered in return for progress on
internal reform, with the objective of promoting regional and
sub-regional co-operation, political stability and economic development.
The ENP does not prejudice future applications for EU membership
by eligible countries. We cleared the European Neighbourhood
Strategy, along with the Country Reports on seven "First
Wave" partners — Ukraine, Moldova, Morocco, Tunisia,
Israel, Jordan and the Palestinian Authority — in early
June.[28] Later that
month, we also cleared what the Minister for Europe (Mr Denis
MacShane) described as "some of the elements which could
form part of the EU's offer" and the likely priorities of
each Plan.[29] Then,
on 8 December, we cleared the Action Plans on the seven "First
Wave" partners that were subsequently approved by the 13
December 2004 General Affairs and External Relations Council.
Each of the Action Plans, the Minister said, combined "opportunities
for closer co-operation in areas of common interest, with a stronger
desire from the EU to establish a set of shared common values
including on issues such as human rights, democratisation, counter-proliferation
and counter-terrorism".
8.2 In welcoming the commitments on countering terrorism
and the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, we noted
that the challenge now was to ensure the delivery of corresponding
outcomes, and that a relationship based on "shared common
values including on issues such as human rights, democratisation,
counter-proliferation and counter-terrorism" must be precisely
that. We also said that while States that did well could hope
for enhanced trade access, increased help in capacity-building,
better access for nationals and so on, those that did not, could
not. We considered that this had a particular relevance to Ukraine
and Moldova. In those cases, we felt that, along with co-operation
on common threats to security, effective co-operation against
organised crime, including trafficking in human beings, and parliamentary
elections in accordance with European standards should be real
yardsticks. We asked if the Minister saw a role for European Security
and Defence Policy (ESDP) Rule of Law Missions in those countries,
similar to the one in Georgia which is helping to strengthen judicial
administration.
8.3 Also, earlier last year, the Minister told us
that "the Government believes that the Action Plan will contribute
to our objectives of encouraging reform in Tunisia, particularly
in the areas of political pluralism, civil liberties, media freedom
and human rights". And on Israel and the Palestinian Authority,
he had said that the EU's relationship "should be based on
a continued commitment from both sides to progress on the Middle
East Peace Progress" and expected that the priority areas
in the Action Plan concerning political dialogue and co-operation
"would include rights of minorities, progress on resolving
the Middle East conflict, and on the fight against anti-Semitism
and other forms of racism, xenophobia and intolerance".[30]
But he did not mention whether the final versions did indeed
include these areas, and we asked him to clarify this.
The Minister's letter
8.4 The Minister responds in his letter of 16 January
2005 as follows:
"I can confirm that the Action Plans for Israel
and the Palestinian Authority state that the EU's relations with
these countries will be based, among other things, on a continued
commitment from both sides to facilitate efforts to resolve the
Middle East Peace Process. Priority areas in the Action Plans
include the rights of minorities, progress on resolving the Middle
East conflict, and on the fight against anti-Semitism and other
forms of racism, xenophobia and intolerance. The Action Plan for
Tunisia will contribute to our objectives of encouraging reform
there, particularly in the areas of political pluralism, civil
liberties, media freedom and human rights.
"On the question relating to Ukraine and Moldova,
the EU has a range of instruments it could apply to support the
rule of law. We do not currently see a role for an ESDP rule of
law mission in Ukraine and Moldova. We will keep under review
how the EU should best support the rule of law, using the most
appropriate instrument available.
"I will of course keep both Committees up to
date with progress on the implementation and monitoring of the
first wave of Action Plans, development of the second wave of
Action Plans and on progress in the development of the European
Neighbourhood and Partnership Instrument."
Conclusion
8.5 We are content with the Minister's response,
since it is now necessary to see how the Partners in question
respond.
8.6 We also look forward to receiving the promised
progress reports, in which we hope to be able to see evidence
of real progress in the areas of concern or, in its absence, his
thoughts on what action would be appropriate.
28 (25708) 9921/04; see HC 42-xxii (2003-04), para
22 (9 June 2004). Back
29
(25744-50) -; see HC 42-xxiv (2003-04), para 6 (23 June 2004). Back
30
(25744) -; see HC 42-xxiv (2003-04), para 6 (23 June 2004).
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