Address By Minister of Foreign Affairs of Estonia Urmas Paet:Strengthening the European Neighbourhood Policy
European Neighbourhood Policy conference "Working together – strengthening the European Neighbourhood Policy"
3 September 2007, Brussels
Mr President, dear colleagues, distinguished guests
While the title of today's meeting is strengthening the European Neighbourhood Policy, we actually mean something broader. The aim of the exercise is to find further ways to develop the ties between the EU member states and the neighbouring countries, and also, to contribute to the increase of stability and prosperity in our common area. The ENP is just only a tool for achieving these goals. Yet it is a powerful instrument, I would argue that the European Union should regard the ENP the most powerful external instrument at its disposal. I hope that the neighbouring countries from their perspective share this view on the policy. The ENP is not a one-way policy, but it is a mutual process, to which all participants can contribute. Both sides can add value to this cooperation. The European Union possesses a long experience of integration and cooperation. Many of the member states have a recent experience of reforms and transition.
The ENP needs further updating to keep in pace with changes in the neighbourhood countries and also to utilise the full potential of the strengthening European Common Foreign and Security Policy. In recent years, Estonia's relations with the ENP countries have been expanding. This year Estonia has decided for the first time to appoint its diplomatic representatives to reside in Southern ENP countries – Egypt and Israel. This increases our possibility to develop ties with the ENP countries to the South of the Mediterranean.
ENP should be flexible to the highest possible extent. Individual approach and differentiation are integral elements of the policy.
ENP countries making faster progress should be rewarded for their achievements, offering an advanced level of cooperation and also increased financing from the EU side. This will stimulate all ENP countries to pursue the reform agenda, thus contributing to the development of the neighbourhood as a whole.
In response to the efforts of the ENP countries, the EU should provide prospects for closer cooperation. Here, we should focus on the possibilities of the expansion of the four freedoms in our relations with the ENP countries. The Presidency report, approved in June, rightly highlights the importance of deeper economic integration, first of all improved access of the ENP countries to the EU markets. In this context the prospect of free trade agreements is very important. Another area where further progress is desirable, is visa facilitation. Easier legal travel to the EU countries would be a visible improvement for many citizens of the neighbourhood countries. It would be a clear sign of the development of our partnership and would lead to enhanced people-to-people contacts.
The European Union should also find ways to increase its engagement in the resolution of the conflicts of the neighbourhood, which pose a long-term threat to stability for us all. Recently, the EU's constructive engagement has increased in the conflicts on the territory of Georgia and Moldova. Yet we must constantly return to the question, how our involvement can facilitate the resolution, and whether we have used all the resources at our disposal.
Relations with individual countries are complemented by various cooperation formats between the EU and groups of ENP countries. The Barcelona Process is a good example of successful cooperation, from which we can learn when promoting cooperation in other neighbourhood regions.
And finally, the ENP remains an important means to advance horizontal cooperation. Here I would especially highlight the need to work closely together in the sphere of energy. We need an effective multilateral dialogue on the security of supply and on related environmental issues. The ENP countries would benefit from the EU's experience on energy efficiency. Through a dialogue on sources of energy and diversification of supply, the EU and ENP countries can mutually contribute to increased security of supply.
Thank you.
3 September 2007, Brussels
Mr President, dear colleagues, distinguished guests
While the title of today's meeting is strengthening the European Neighbourhood Policy, we actually mean something broader. The aim of the exercise is to find further ways to develop the ties between the EU member states and the neighbouring countries, and also, to contribute to the increase of stability and prosperity in our common area. The ENP is just only a tool for achieving these goals. Yet it is a powerful instrument, I would argue that the European Union should regard the ENP the most powerful external instrument at its disposal. I hope that the neighbouring countries from their perspective share this view on the policy. The ENP is not a one-way policy, but it is a mutual process, to which all participants can contribute. Both sides can add value to this cooperation. The European Union possesses a long experience of integration and cooperation. Many of the member states have a recent experience of reforms and transition.
The ENP needs further updating to keep in pace with changes in the neighbourhood countries and also to utilise the full potential of the strengthening European Common Foreign and Security Policy. In recent years, Estonia's relations with the ENP countries have been expanding. This year Estonia has decided for the first time to appoint its diplomatic representatives to reside in Southern ENP countries – Egypt and Israel. This increases our possibility to develop ties with the ENP countries to the South of the Mediterranean.
ENP should be flexible to the highest possible extent. Individual approach and differentiation are integral elements of the policy.
ENP countries making faster progress should be rewarded for their achievements, offering an advanced level of cooperation and also increased financing from the EU side. This will stimulate all ENP countries to pursue the reform agenda, thus contributing to the development of the neighbourhood as a whole.
In response to the efforts of the ENP countries, the EU should provide prospects for closer cooperation. Here, we should focus on the possibilities of the expansion of the four freedoms in our relations with the ENP countries. The Presidency report, approved in June, rightly highlights the importance of deeper economic integration, first of all improved access of the ENP countries to the EU markets. In this context the prospect of free trade agreements is very important. Another area where further progress is desirable, is visa facilitation. Easier legal travel to the EU countries would be a visible improvement for many citizens of the neighbourhood countries. It would be a clear sign of the development of our partnership and would lead to enhanced people-to-people contacts.
The European Union should also find ways to increase its engagement in the resolution of the conflicts of the neighbourhood, which pose a long-term threat to stability for us all. Recently, the EU's constructive engagement has increased in the conflicts on the territory of Georgia and Moldova. Yet we must constantly return to the question, how our involvement can facilitate the resolution, and whether we have used all the resources at our disposal.
Relations with individual countries are complemented by various cooperation formats between the EU and groups of ENP countries. The Barcelona Process is a good example of successful cooperation, from which we can learn when promoting cooperation in other neighbourhood regions.
And finally, the ENP remains an important means to advance horizontal cooperation. Here I would especially highlight the need to work closely together in the sphere of energy. We need an effective multilateral dialogue on the security of supply and on related environmental issues. The ENP countries would benefit from the EU's experience on energy efficiency. Through a dialogue on sources of energy and diversification of supply, the EU and ENP countries can mutually contribute to increased security of supply.
Thank you.
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