PROVOCĂRI LA ADRESA SECURITĂŢII ŞI STRATEGIEI LA ÎNCEPUTUL SECOLULUI XXI

size-fits-all policy. Different stages of reform and economic development
also means that different rates of progress can be expected from the
neighbouring countries over the coming decade.
The Action Plans would set the objectives for the development of
our relations, short- and medium- term. They would include clear
indications of the prerequisites for each step and of the commitments by
each side. A first group of Action Plans could be agreed in the first half of
2004. The EU assistance programmes to neighbouring countries could then
be adapted to reflect the priorities set out in the Action Plans.
The Union’s neighbourhood policy is distinct from the issue of
possible further enlargement. It concerns countries for which accession is
not on the agenda. The neighbourhood policy does not close the door to the
European aspirations of any country. On the contrary, by enhancing cooperation
and encouraging reform, it should be of great help in supporting
such aspirations, where they exist and are pertinent. On the other hand, it is
clear that the Union’s neighbourhood policy cannot be based on the prospect
of successive accessions of its neighbours.
An important component of the neighbourhood policy is cooperation
at the enlarged Union’s external borders. On the whole, the
Union’s land border with the countries covered by the Wider Europe - New
Neighbourhood initiative will pass from 1300 to 5100 kilometres. Moreover,
the accession to the Union of the two island-states, Cyprus and Malta, will
bring a number of Mediterranean countries closer to the EU territory.
In most of the enlarged Union’s external borders, there is a long
tradition of cross-border contacts and interpenetration. Ethnic and linguistic
kinship, close links based on geography and history are an important part of
life in these areas.
In many places, a vibrant, if not always orderly, transboundary
economic activity has grown over the last years, and contributes
substantially to the budget of households. Politically and economically, but
also from a human dimension, it is important to maintain and manage these
transboundary contacts and to develop new ones. The Union has already
been financing cross-border co-operation on both sides of its borders. A
wide range of activities could be supported: from interconnection of
networks at the micro-scale of border areas, to support of economic cooperation,
contacts between local authorities and NGO’s, and establishment
of border region partnerships [7].
The situations of Russia, the countries of the WNIS and the
Southern Mediterranean are very different judged by most standards. The
course of the 20 th century saw dramatic changes in geography, politics and
culture both on the European continent and in the Mediterranean. These
forces have not necessarily led to greater convergence. Differences are
reflected in the variety and intensity of the Union’s existing relations with
and among the countries of its new neighbourhood [8]. While, for example,
the Union’s relations with Belarus have progressed little since 1996, the
development of EU/Russia dialogue and cooperation on political and
security issues, energy, environment and science and technology over the
past few years has accelerated rapidly.
On the future Eastern external border, regional economic
cooperation among the WNIS is already quite strong, oriented around
traditional flows of trade and investment to and from Russia. However,
encouragement for regional political cooperation and/or economic
integration has not so far formed a strong component of EU policy towards
Russia and the WNIS.
The Northern Dimension currently provides the only regional
framework in which the EU participates with its Eastern partners to address
trans-national and cross-border issues. But participation is restricted to
Russia.
The EU shares an important set of mutual interests with each of its
neighbours. All countries in the new neighbourhood are confronted by the
opportunities and challenges surrounding Proximity, Prosperity and Poverty.
Proximity. In the Partnership and Cooperation Agreements in effect
with Russia, Ukraine and Moldova, the parties also agreed on the need to
establish a strong partnership, based on historic links and common values.
This type of agreement was designed as instruments to help with the
transition process, notably through gradual rapprochement between the EU
and the partner countries and to create a wider area of cooperation. The
geographical proximity increases the importance of a set of issues revolving
around, but not limited to, the management of the new external border and
trans-boundary flows.
Prosperity and Poverty. A new EU approach to its neighbouring
countries cannot be confined to the border regions alone. If the EU is to
work with its neighbourhood to create an area of shared prosperity and
stability, proximity policy must go hand-in-hand with action to tackle the
root causes of the political instability, economic vulnerability, institutional
deficiencies, conflict and poverty and social exclusion [9].
The EU can and should work to spread the benefits of enlargement
for political and economic stability in the neighbouring countries and to help
reduce prosperity gaps where they exist. This should be reflected in a clear
vision for the development of closer and more coherent relations with the
Union’s neighbours over the medium and long term. The EU should act to
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