Transcript No Slide Title

Overview of the status and
progress with the National
Action Plans
Pauline Denissel
Neighbourhood Programme Assistant
(WWF EPO)
28th November 2006
What is an Action Plan? (1)
• A “contract” agreed between the EU and the
national government
• Legal basis: the Association Agreement of
Partnership or Cooperation Agreement
• setting out an agenda of political and
economic reforms with short and mediumterm priorities
• Timeframe: 3-5 years
What is an Action Plan? (2)
• Tailor-made to reflect the particular
circumstances and objectives of each partner
country (nevertheless they are all very
similar…)
• Do not contain anything that does not have
the full approval of both sides,
• Requires a mutual commitment to common
values between EU and ENP countries
• All components are NOT automatically
implemented with EU funds.
General Objectives
•
•
•
•
•
political dialogue and reform
economic and social development and reform
regulatory and trade related issues
justice and home affairs
key sectors: transport, energy, information
society and environment
• people-to-people contacts.
A dynamic process
• Implementation is monitored through sub-Committees
• COM issues periodic reports on progress and on areas
requiring further progress
• The Action Plans can be regularly amended on a joint
basis, and/or updated to reflect progress
• First review of Action Plans (2 years after adoption):
decision on adaptation and renewal
• Second report by COM (end of 5 years): decision on next
steps in development of bilateral relations
• Revision of AP according to assessment
Current status of Action Plans
Adopted December 2004: Moldova, Ukraine,
Morocco, Tunisia, Jordan, Palestinian Authority, Israel
Adopted 14 November 2006: Armenia, Azerbaijan,
Georgia
Being drafted now (to be adopted early 2007):
Egypt and Lebanon
Not yet initiated: Belarus, Libya, Syria and Algeria
Content of Action Plans
• All have a common structure and chapter headings
• Most have text that opens the way for promoting civil
society access to information and participation in
environmental decision-making (though these words are
not used!)
• All have a section on the environment
• All have text on promotion of sustainable development
• All have short sections dealing with crossborder/regional cooperation, notably in the field of
environment
The Action Plans and
Sustainable Development
“The privileged relationship with neighbours will build on
mutual commitment to common values principally within the
fields of the rule of law, good governance, the respect for
human rights, including minority rights, the promotion of good
neighbourly relations, and the principles of market economy
and sustainable development.”
The European Neighbourhood Policy Strategy Paper (COM (2004)
373), 12 May 2004
.
Sustainable development chapter
ex: Action Plan Armenia
“4.3 Economic and social reform, poverty reduction
and sustainable development {…}
Promotion of sustainable development
.
• Develop a National Strategy on Sustainable Development;
• Establish administrative structures and procedures to
ensure strategic planning of sustainable development and
co-ordination between relevant actors;
• Take steps to improve integration of environmental
considerations into other policy sectors {particularly
industry, energy, transport, regional development
and agriculture}”
The Action Plans and civil society
“The Action Plans will contain a number of
priorities intended to strengthen commitment
to these {shared} values. These include: {…}
support for the development of civil society;”
The European Neighbourhood Policy Strategy Paper
(COM (2004) 373), 12 May 2004
Civil society in the Action Plans
(1)
•Under Objective “Political Dialogue and Reform” (Ukraine AP)
“(5) Foster the development of civil society. {…}”
•Under Objective “People to people contacts” (Israel AP)
“4. Promote civil society co-operation
– Development of EU-Israel links between civil society
organisation and NGOs (symposia, workshops) {…}”
•In priority Area 3 (Azerbaijan AP)
“Promote growth of civil society and its organised forms
(human rights NGOs, associations, etc). Alleviate the current
cumbersome procedures required for NGO registration;”
Civil Society in the Action Plans (2)
Under Objective “Transport, energy, telecommunications,
environment, and Research, development and innovation”
(Moldova AP)
“Establish procedures regarding access to environmental
information and public participation, including
implementation of the Aarhus Convention, {particularly
by establishing structures and procedures for
ensuring an acceptable level of service to those
wishing to have access to information}.”
The Action Plans and the
Environment
“Action Plans will promote good environmental governance in
partner countries to prevent environmental degradation and
pollution, protect human health, and achieve a more rational
use of natural resources.”*
*The European Neighbourhood Policy Strategy Paper (COM (2004)
373), 12 May 2004
The Strategy:
identifies the key areas, such as water quality, waste
management, air pollution and the fight against desertification
highlights the need of regional cooperation and
ratification and implementation of the international agreements
.
Improvements on environment
Ukraine
Envt and/or
SD are
among
Priority
areas
Regional
Cooperation
in the field
of
environment
Envt
integration
into other
sectors
Moldova Palestine
Israel Armenia
Georgia
Azerbaijan
XXXX XXXXXX XXXXXX XXXXXX
XXXXXX XXXXXX XXXXXX
XXXXXX
Environmental chapter
“4.6.4 Environment
Take steps to ensure that conditions for good environmental
governance are set and start implementing them
{...}
Take action for prevention of deterioration of the environment,
protection of human health, and achievement of rational use
of natural resources in line with the commitments of
Johannesburg Summit
{…}
Enhance co-operation on environmental issues
{…}”
Main comments on environment
• Main environmental priorities: water
resources, waste management, air and industrial
pollution...
• Cooperation on environmental issues: climate
change, EU Water Initiative, Danube-Black Sea
force on transboundary approach to water
management...
General conclusions on the AP
Assessment
• Action Plans greener…
• Environment in regional cooperation is
increasingly acknowledged
• BUT little integration of environmental
concerns in other sectors (transport, energy…)
• SD is not sufficiently reflected as an overarching
goal
OUR IMPACT?
Next steps:
(Under German Presidency)
Communication from the Commission with :
 Progress report on implementing existing ENP
Action Plans with 11 partner countries to be
published
 Specific proposals for successor arrangements with
Ukraine, Moldova and Israel, whose Action Plans will
expire in 2008.
© WWF-Canon / Michel GUNTHER
Next steps:
 Adoption AP for Egypt and Lebanon (2007)
 Evaluation of new AP 2 years after their adoption
(Caucasus countries in 2008)
 Revision of Action Plans (2007 and 2009)
 Periodic reports on the implementation of Action
Plans
 Negotiation with remaining countries (Syria and
Libya and Algeria)
© WWF-Canon / Michel GUNTHER
Thanks for your attention
Pauline Denissel
Neighbourhood Programme Assistant WWF EPO
[email protected]