The European Neighbourhood Policy (ENP) was developed in 2004 with the aim “to avoid drawing new dividing lines in Europe and to promote stability and prosperity within and beyond the new borders of the Union”.

It provides the framework for closer cooperation with the neighbouring countries of the newly enlarged European Union, namely Algeria, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Egypt, Georgia, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Libya, Moldova, Morocco, the Palestinian Authority, Russia, Syria, Tunisia and Ukraine.

The ENP has developed very quickly since it was launched by the European Commission with a Communication on Wider Europe(March 2003), a Strategy Paper on the European Neighbourhood Policy(May 2004), a Communication on strengthening the European Neighbourhood Policy(December 2006) and a Communication on a strong European Neighbourhood Policy (December 2007).

The ENP builds upon existing agreements between the EU and the partner country (Partnership and Cooperation Agreements, or Association Agreements in the framework of the EuroMediterranean Partnership). The ENP is not yet ‘activated’ for Belarus, Libya or Syria as they have no such agreements yet.

A central element of the ENP is the bilateral ENP Action Plans with individual partner countries. Each Action plan constitutes a contract between the EU and an individual country. It includes commitments from both the EU and the partner country on six major issues:

1. political dialogue and reform
2. economic and social development and reform
3. regulatory and trade-related issues
4. justice and home affairs
5. the key sectors of transport, energy, information society, and the environment
6. people-to-people contact.

Implementation of the first seven ENP Action Plans (agreed in early 2005 with Israel, Jordan, Moldova, Morocco, the Palestinian Authority, Tunisia and Ukraine) is ongoing and was assessed in December 2006. Five Actions Plans were agreed in October 2006 (for Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia), January 2007 (for Lebanon) and March 2007 (Egypt) and are now being implemented.