Further Action Plans are being drafted by the Commission in order to deepen and widen its European Neighbourhood Policy (ENP) framework. The first action plans were presented a year ago, and according to External Relations Commissioner Benita Ferrero-Waldner the ENP "is already confirming its potential".
In its assessment of the ENP over the past 12 months, the Commission said that
- seven action plans have already been formally adopted (with Israel, Jordan, Moldova, Morocco, the Palestinian Authority, Tunisia and Ukraine) and their implementation and monitoring is under way
- preparations have been made for the use of twinning and the Technical Assistance and Information Exchange Programme (TAIEX) with ENP partners
- the member states increasingly align their bilateral assistance programmes with the ENP's reform priorities
- the international financial institutions increasingly adjust their strategic agenda to the ENP's action plans
As for the priorities for 2006-2007, the Commission aims to
- complete further action plans
- set up an ENP-specific scholarship scheme
- ensure adequate financing for ENP under the 2007-2013 financial perspectives
- work on the ENP's long-term perspectives.
