UE holds international conference to strengthen European Neighbourhood Policy

EU key representatives have gathered together Monday, September 3, in Brussels for the Conference themed “Working Together – Strengthening the European Neighbourhood Policy”, organised by the European Commission. According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and European Integration, the Conference is an event that for the first time in the history of ENP brings together key officials from the Portuguese EU Presidency, the Council of the European Union, the European Parliament, the European Investment Bank, representatives of the business community and civil society, as well as foreign ministers from both partner countries and EU member states. The goal of the Conference is to exchange views and ideas on how the policy can be further strengthened or how it could better respond to the partners’ needs. During the Conference, Moldova’s Foreign Minister Andrei Stratan presented the position of Moldova concerning the European Neighbourhood Policy, stating that it serves as a pillar for both domestic and foreign policies in accomplishing the country’s European integration goal. An undisputable benefit that would bring the partner countries closer to the European Union and would encourage reforms is, in Stratan’s opinion, the offering of clear perspectives for the countries with European aspirations, as Moldova is. The objective of the European Neighbourhood Policy (ENP) is to share the benefits of the EU’s 2004 enlargement with neighbouring countries. It is also designed to prevent the emergence of new dividing lines between the enlarged EU and its neighbours. At present, the EU has Action Plans signed with Moldova, Ukraine, Georgia, Azerbaijan, Armenia, Egypt, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Morocco, Palestinian Authority, and Tunisia.