1. The Enlargement and Neighbourhood Policy
21st meeting of the Management Group on Statistical Cooperation
Luxembourg, 4-5th April 2019
Andreas PAPADOPOULOS
DG Neighbourhood and Enlargement Negotiations, Advisor

2. The current enlargement agenda
Candidates negotiating
Turkey
Montenegro
Serbia
Candidates not negotiating (yet)
Albania
North Macedonia
Potential candidates  
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Kosovo

3. 2018 – A pivotal year for the Western Balkans
Western Balkans Strategy (February 218)
EU - Western Balkans Sofia Summit, May 2018
On 6 of February 2018 the European Commission adopted the Communication:
A credible enlargement perspective for and enhanced EU engagement with the Western Balkans
The Western Balkans Strategy reaffirms the EUROPEAN FUTURE of the Western Balkans:
Historic window of opportunity for all Western Balkans: In the coming years, all Western Balkan countries have the chance to move forward on their respective European paths. The Commission assesses all the countries in a fair and objective manner on the basis of their own merits and at the speed at which they achieve progress in meeting the established criteria.
Enlargement perspective in the hands of the countries themselves as this remains a merit-based process: 2025 perspective for Montenegro and Serbia – not a fixed accession date.
Progress only possible with strong political will, the delivery of real and sustained reforms, and definitive solutions to disputes with neighbours
Solutions to disputes with neighbours
EU - Western Balkans Sofia Summit, May 2018
EU and Western Balkans leaders together for the first time after Thessaloniki Summit (2003)
The summit:
Reaffirmed the EU's support for the European perspective of the Western Balkans
Pledged to enhance substantially connectivity in all its dimensions within the region and with the EU
Reaffirmed the need to tackle jointly common challenges, such as security, migration, geopolitical developments
Stressed the need to continue strengthening good neighbourly relations, regional stability and mutual cooperation.

4. Western Balkans
Accession negotiations are ongoing with Montenegro and Serbia
North Macedonia and Albania are official candidate countries but negotiations have not started yet
Bosnia and Herzegovina and Kosovo are potential candidates

5. Turkey: A key partner
No further chapters can be considered for opening or closing:
accession negotiations have effectively come to a standstill
However, the EU remains committed to cooperating in essential areas of joint interest:
A key partner: the EU remains committed to maintaining an open and frank dialogue, to addressing common challenges and to cooperating in essential areas of joint interest such as migration, counter-terrorism, energy, transport, economy and trade.
At the same time, Turkey has been moving further away from the European Union. Turkey's accession negotiations have therefore effectively come to a standstill and no further chapters can be considered for opening or closing.
economy
energy
transport
migration
counter-terrorism
trade

6. Facility for refugees in Turkey
Cooperation between Turkey and the EU under the EU-Turkey Statement key for the migration challenge
Irregular flows of migrants reduced drastically thanks to our agreement with Turkey
Lower number of losses of lives in the Aegean Sea has been consolidated

7. Challenges ahead Manage expectations of countries towards accession
Difficult reform agendas
Keeping third country influence at bay

9. ENP Review in November 2015
Focus on stabilisation which is the overarching theme of the ENP
Key principles
Tailor-made with clear differentiation
Better focused on common interests
Increased flexibility financial instruments
ENP Review in November 2015
Stabilisation: the overarching theme is stabilisation to be achieved through political association and economic integration.
Stabilisation of European neighbourhood is key priority of EU’s foreign action

10. Bilateral Relations
Reinvigorated political relations with partner countries leading to:
Partnership Priorities
Enhanced Comprehensive Partnerships
Revised Association Agendas
ENP builds upon the legal agreements in place between the EU and the partner countries.
The approach adopted under the ENP Review - under the principle of joint ownership - has led to negotiate Partnership Priorities with most of ENP partner countries.

11. Bilateral relations Partnership Priorities Armenia Azerbaijan Algeria
Egypt
Jordan
Lebanon
Updated Association Agendas
In the East, work on the differentiated relations with all Eastern partner countries following the ENP-review has advanced well.
The political framework set by the Association Agreements with Ukraine, Georgia and Moldova and the Association Agendas have continued to be implemented.
The realignment of multilateral and bilateral actions is ongoing and the multiannual programming documents for Armenia, Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine, as well as the Regional East provided the basis for Annual Programming in 2018.
The Single Support Framework for Azerbaijan was adopted in December A package of ‘Special Measures’ was adopted in 2018 for Belarus while continuing negotiations on Partnership Priorities.
Armenia is the only country that has negotiated new Comprehensive and Enhanced Partnership Agreement and Partnership Priorities and is at the same time member of the Eurasian Union
The joint commitment to the Eastern Partnership was reconfirmed at the Brussels Summit on 24 November 2017 by adopting the "20 Deliverables for 2020", which have been the basis for EU’s assistance and major programmes in 2018 and a new institutional set-up of the Eastern Partnership has been put in place.
In the South
the EU and Tunisia agreed on Strategic Priorities for
A Single Support Framework for Algeria was adopted in April
The EU-Morocco Action Plan implementing the advanced status was extended for one year, and consequently the Single Support Framework.
The EU-Jordan Association Council agreed on a two-year extension of the Partnership Priorities until the end of 2020.
The first drafts of the Partnership Priorities with Palestine and Israel were prepared for a discussion with EU Member States early 2019.
The Action Plans for both Israel and Palestine were prolonged for three years at the end of 2018.
Georgia
Moldova
Ukraine

12. Priority areas for cooperation
1. Good governance, rule of law and human rights 2. Sustainable economic development 3. Security 4. Migration and mobility
Since the Review the Commission continued to implement its revised European Neighbourhood Policy, aiming to create the conditions for the stabilisation of the EU's neighbourhood.
Throughout the year, the reviewed ENP mobilised significant support to reforms along its four refocused priorities and fully integrated the principles of differentiation and shared ownership.
Engagement with all neighbourhood countries through political dialogue continued and additional guidance and support was provided to ENP partner countries for their reform efforts.
ENP’s priority areas: i) good governance, democracy, human rights and the rule of law, ii) sustainable economic development, iii) security, and iv) migration and mobility.

13. 1. Strengthening institutions and good governance
Rule of law and effective justice systems
Functioning of democratic institutions and parliament oversight role
Fight against corruption
Public administration reform
Important role of civil society
The EU continued to drive forward programmes aimed at assisting Neighbourhood countries in tackling tackling the root causes of instability through a renewed focus on good governance, the rule of law, and human rights. Continued efforts and new programmes were supported both in the East and the South, aimed at improving public administration, introducing or reinforcing anti-corruption measures, public finance management, training civil servants, accompanying decentralisation or capacity building of local administrations. Significant efforts at bilateral and regional levels continued to increase the capacity of civil society across the region in terms of policy shaping, to support Human Rights Defenders, freedom as well as the accountability of States to their citizens.
Gerogia:
Package of justice reforms; EU democracy support pilot work is ongoing.
Major ongoing reforms: Rule of law, fight against corruption, and public administration reform;
Ongoing works on the expansion of the South Caucasus Gas Pipeline;

14. 2. Sustainable economic development
Closer trade cooperation
Private business and competitiveness
Youth employability and education
Connectivity and Energy
Closer trade cooperation (including DCFTAs)
Focus on private sector and SMEs to improving competitiveness ans stimulate business environment
Supporting youth employability and education
Connectivity and Energy: energy efficiency, increased investment, support to implementation of Paris agreement

15. 3. Security Border security and border management Conflict-prevention
Tackling terrorism and preventing radicalization
Disrupting organised crime and fighting cyber crime
Addressing the consequences of the multiples crisis that have hit the Neighbourhood countries was at the core of the Commissions strategic support.
In response to the conflict in the east of the Ukraine, the EU continued to provide humanitarian as well as stabilisation and early recovery assistance to Ukraine. The EU also adopted a significant package to provide support for recovery and development as well as to strengthen social and economic resilience in government-controlled areas in the east of Ukraine.
Mitigating the impact of the protracted Syrian crisis remained a constant priority throughout The April "Brussels II Conference on Supporting the Future of Syria and the Region" reaffirmed the engagement of the EU in supporting Syrian refugees and host communities through the activities of the EU Regional Trust Fund in Response to the Syrian Crisis.
In Libya, the security situation remained a constraint for the implementation of the cooperation programmes. Operations continued to be remotely managed from Tunis where the Delegation is temporarily based.

16. 4. Migration and mobility
Tackling root causes of irregular migration
Borders management
Promotion of legal migration and mobility
2 EU Trust funds:
EU emergency trust fund for Africa
EU Regional Trust Fund in Response to the Syrian Crisis
Migration and security related challenges continued to receive EU attention and support.
The EU continued to apply a balanced approach to the multiple aspects of migration giving a focus on areas of mutual interest. Through the North of Africa of the EU Emergency Trust Fund for Africa, the EU is contributing to addressing the root causes of irregular migration and forced displacement, the fight against trafficking of human beings and smuggling of migrants and the return and reintegration of migrants to their countries of origin.

17. Challenges ahead Include deeper association tools
Cooperate with N. African countries on jobs and growth
Syria: Prepare post-conflict engagement
Libya: Support stabilisation