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

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

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.

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

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

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

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

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

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.

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 2017-2020 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 2018. 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 2018-2020. A Single Support Framework 2018-2020 for Algeria was adopted in April 2018. 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

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.

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;

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

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 2018. 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.

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.

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