A new European Neighbourhood Policy for a new geopolitical context

19. November 2015

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The European People’s Party (EPP) welcomes the adoption of the new European Neighbourhood Policy, which outlines a comprehensive strategy to reinforce the EU’s partnership with its eastern and southern neighbours, while also empowering them. “The European Neighbourhood Policy (ENP) was launched in 2004, but we are now facing a completely different context to the east and the south of the EU. We cannot apply old recipes to new geopolitical scenarios. The EPP fully supports the new European Neighbourhood Policy, which gives priority to the security and stabilisation of the regions close to the EU. It also rightly focuses on the differentiation towards each partner and greater mutual ownership,” EPP President Joseph Daul stated. “This is an opportunity for both the EU and its neighbours to build a more stable, secure and prosperous future. Thanks to European Commissioner Johannes Hahn’s vision, commitment and ability to think outside the box, the European Neighbourhood Policy has been given new momentum. Combining economic development, energy interconnections and security, as well as coordination on migration, provides the necessary holistic approach,” the EPP President added. Alongside the efforts of the European Commission, the EPP has long been a key political player in the European neighbourhood. The EPP has worked for years in the eastern region with its member parties and has reinforced this cooperation by establishing the EPP Eastern Partnership leaders meeting in 2011. The declaration adopted at the EPP EaP meeting in Riga this year was our contribution to the review of the ENP launched by the European Commission, in which we stand for the development of a real partnership of equals based on shared interests, while promoting the principles of differentiation, conditionality, joint ownership, joint responsibility, solidarity, and “more for more”. “In the Mediterranean region, the EPP has also been active in spreading these values. To reinforce its cooperation in the region, the EPP decided to change its party statutes. By doing so, the EPP created a partnership to formalise relations with like-minded parties towards a comprehensive and long-term strategy,” EPP Secretary General Antonio López-Istúriz commented. “In these regions the EPP has promoted the rule of law, the independence of the justice system and the fight against corruption. These are the pre-conditions for attracting foreign investment and favouring economic development. All these efforts should lead to a prosperous society benefiting the citizens. These are the pillars to build societies in which young people, and people of all ages, see a more optimistic future in their own countries,” concluded the EPP leadership.


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For more information contact:

 

Alexandra Henman

Deputy Spokesperson

+32 471 90 76 84

alh@epp.eu

 

Angelos Athanasopoulos

National and Regional Press Director

+32 471 90 76 35

aa@epp.eu

 

Other latest news:

EPP Lead Candidate delivers speech in Karlsruhe, Germany
EPP Campaign Media Advisory - Ursula von der Leyen to visit Latvia
EPP Lead Candidate delivers speech in Hildesheim, Lower Saxony
Back to all news