The Committee on Foreign Affairs (AFET) exchange views Stefan FÜLE, Commissioner for Enlargement and European Neighbourhood Policy on the review of the European Neighbourhood Policy (ENP), in the European Parliament in Brussels.

Committee on Foreign Affairs

Brussels

exchange of views

meeting

European neighbourhood policy (T)

BROK, Elmar (EPP, DE)

FÜLE, Štefan (EC)

SCHULZ, Werner (Greens/EFA, DE)

NEYTS-UYTTEBROECK, Annemie (ALDE, BE)

Review of the European Neighbourhood Policy (ENP): extract from the exchange of views with Stefan FÜLE, Commissioner for Enlargement and European Neighbourhood Policy

SOUNDBITE (English), &#352;tefan F&#220;LE, European Commissioner for Enlargement and Neighbourhood Policy, There is a clear demand for a strong neighbourhood policy and this is true even if some partners do not like the label under which it comes. You just had a very interesting discussion. This is in itself very positive but it would be wrong for us to think that this is enough. We know that we are not the only players in the neighbourhood. There are others who seek to extend their influence in a way that is not always compatible with the EU values or the EU acquis. Belarus has agreed to a custom union with Russia, Chinas economic and political influence is growing. Expectations are high and the EU needs to be unambiguous about what it can offer to its neighbours and what it expects from them in return.

SOUNDBITE (English), &#352;tefan F&#220;LE, European Commissioner for Enlargement and Neighbourhood Policy, There are some important gaps between the partners expectation and what the EU may want to be prepared to offer. The first gap is about the number of freedoms that partner countries citizens should enjoy. Partners expect to be able enjoy all four. Some European member states have the tendency to focus on just three of them. There are clear, and let me add, understandable concerns when it comes to the freedom of movement. The second is about financial support. Partners highlight the cost of the reforms linked to the convergence with acquis and the conclusions of deep and comprehensive free trade areas. Some European member states are reluctant to speak about increased financial resources to support the cost of reform.

SOUNDBITE (English), &#352;tefan F&#220;LE, European Commissioner for Enlargement and Neighbourhood Policy, The key to bridging these gaps lies in a gradual approach based on a clear and more rigorous differentiation. DCFTA or a visa free regime require not only clear commitment from the partner countries but also the administrative capacity to credibly implement these commitments.

SOUNDBITE (English), &#352;tefan F&#220;LE, European Commissioner for Enlargement and Neighbourhood Policy, Financial allocations should be much higher for those countries that really undertake political reform or implement DCFTA than for those that declare the readiness to do so. We do not differentiate enough at present, and the EU should be more force coming on mobility with those countries that take credible steps to control their external borders and meet other preconditions.

SOUNDBITE (German), Elmar BROK (EPP, DE), Some of them are neighbours, some of them are neighbours of neighbours with different consequences. So I think we should look as Mr. Prodi said it is one institution that we should think about the negotiations about free trade areas for membership at the single market and how we can get early access to Schengen without being a member of EU.

SOUNDBITE (English), Annemie NEYTS-UYTTEBROECK (ALDE, BE), I also believe that there has been and still are quite a lot of misunderstandings and of conflicting expectations. I wonder, personally, that no more of our partner countries are saying that we are at the same time, we EU, demanding too much and sometimes seemingly at least offering very little. And that should stop.

SOUNDBITE (German), Werner SCHULZ (Greens/EFA, DE), This idea of partnership is a model what we are offering these countries, we want to make sure that they can rely on our help and our partnership, Schengen zone, all of these things. That's more important than been able to offer endless possibilities to countries acceding to the EU.