Algeria
Egypt
Israel
Jordan
Lebanon
Libya
Morocco
Palestine *
Syria *
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Home > The European Neighbourhood Instrument (ENI)
The European Neighbourhood Instrument (ENI)
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EU and Neighbours: evolving relations
Cooperation, peace and security, mutual accountability and a shared commitment to the universal values of democracy, the rule of law and respect for human rights, are the founding principles of the special relationship between the EU and the Neighbourhood countries of the East and the South.
The aim of that partnership should be “to establish an area of prosperity and good neighbourliness, founded on the values of the Union and characterized by close and peaceful relations based on cooperation”, according to the Treaty on European Union. Since it was launched, in 2004, the European Neighbourhood Policy (ENP) has been strengthening relations, bringing tangible benefits to both the EU and its Neighbourhood partners, including the introduction of regional initiatives and support to democratisation.
The ENI
Relations and goals will be further advanced through the European
Neighbourhood Instrument (ENI), which has replaced the European Neighbourhood and Partnership
Instrument (ENPI) , so that it reflects real needs and considerations that have emerged
over the years. The
Regulation setting up the ENI underlines that it should give support to the
implementation of the political initiatives shaping the
ENP, including the
Eastern Partnership and the
Union for the Mediterranean. Giving
incentives and rewarding best performers, as well as offering funds in a
faster and more flexible manner, are the two main principles underlying
the European Neighbourhood Instrument (ENI) worth
over €15 billion
from 2014-2020. Based on the experiences gained until today, the ENI
will support the
European Neighbourhood Policy (ENP) and
turn decisions taken on a political level into actions on the ground.
Effective from 2014 to 2020. the ENI seeks to
streamline financial support, concentrating on agreed policy objectives,
and make programming shorter and better focused, so that it is more
effective. The ENI will build on the achievements of the
European Neighbourhood and Partnership Instrumentt (ENPI) and bring more tangible benefits to both the
EU and its Neighbourhood partners. It has a
budget of €15.433 billion and will provide the
bulk of funding to the European Neighbourhood countries
through a number of programmes. The 16
ENI Partner Countries are:
* EU Cooperation with Syria is currently suspended due to the political
situation ** This designation shall not be construed as recognition of a
State of Palestine and is without prejudice to the individual positions
of the Member States on this issue. Relations with Russia: Russia has a
special status, as relations with this country are not developed through
the ENP, but a strategic partnership covering four “common spaces”.
Therefore it is only eligible for ENI regional and Cross-Border
Cooperation programmes, for which it co-finances projects. Bilateral
cooperation with Russia is funded under the new Partnership Instrument
(PI).
The ENI – what’s new?
What makes this instrument more effective, is that, under the ENI,
assistance to Neighbours will:
- Become faster and more flexible, reducing the complexity and length of the programming process so that the relevance of the assistance is not undermined;
- Offer incentives for best performers through the more-for-more approach that allows the EU to increase its support to those partners that are genuinely implementing what has been jointly agreed;
- Be increasingly policy-driven based on the key policy objectives agreed with the partners, mainly in the ENP bilateral action plans;
- Allow for greater differentiation so that the EU allocates a greater proportion of funds where aid can have the highest impact;
- Aim for mutual accountability so that it takes greater account of human rights, democracy and good governance when it comes to allocating assistance.
Six ENI targets
- Fostering human rights and fundamental freedoms, the rule of law, equality, sustainable democracy, good governance and a thriving civil society;
- Achieving progressive integration into the EU internal market and enhanced co-operation including through legislative approximation and regulatory convergence, institution building and investments;
- Creating conditions for well managed mobility of people and promotion of people-to-people contacts;
- Encouraging development, poverty reduction, internal economic, social and territorial cohesion, rural development, climate action and disaster resilience;
- Promoting confidence building and other measures contributing to security and the prevention and settlement of conflicts;
- Enhancing sub-regional, regional and Neighbourhood wide collaboration as well as Cross-Border Cooperation.
How support is given
Support through the ENI is programmed and given in three different
ways:
- Bilateral programmes covering support to one partner country;
- Multi-country programmes which address challenges common to all or a number of partner countries, and regional and sub-regional cooperation between two or more partner countries;
- Cross-Border Cooperation programmes between Member States and partner countries taking place along their shared part of the external border of the EU (including Russia).
Priority areas
Some of the ENI cooperation areas that will be given high priority are:- Boosting small businesses;
- Civil-society engagement;
- Climate change action;
- Energy cooperation;
- Gender equality promotion;
- Gradual economic integration;
- People-to-people contacts;
- Transport connections;
- Youth and employment.
Involving Civil Society
Through the ENI, the EU seeks to support the strengthening of the
capacity of civil society organisations to guarantee effective
domestic accountability and local ownership, and to play a full role
in the democratisation process. According to the ENI
Regulation, external action partners, including civil society organisations and
local authorities, are involved in preparing, implementing and
monitoring EU support, given the importance of their roles.
Furthermore, civil society organisations are called upon to
participate in the development of the three financial programmes – the
bilateral, the multi-country and the cross border cooperation – and
will be, together with local and regional authorities, their main
beneficiaries. A clear demonstration of the backing offered to civil
society is the fact that support may even be increased, in case there
is a serious regression in the country. More specifically, the ENI
Regulation stipulates that the support and the amounts given to partner
countries will be based on their progress achieve and thus can be
reconsidered. However, this incentive-based approach shall not apply
to support to civil society, people-to-people contacts, including
cooperation between local authorities, support for the improvement of
human rights, or crisis-related support measures. In the event of
serious or persistent regression, such support may be increased, it
underlines.
From the ENPI to the ENI
The ENI will be replacing the European Neighbourhood and Partnership
Instrument – known as the ENPI. ENPI funding approved for the period
2007-2013 was €11.2 billion.
ENP and Action plans
The European Neighbourhood Policy (ENP) aims at bringing Europe and
its neighbours closer, supporting political and economic reforms in
sixteen of Europe’s neighbouring countries as a means of promoting
peace, stability and economic prosperity in the whole region. It is
designed to give greater emphasis than previously to bilateral
relations between the EU and each neighbouring country. The bilateral
Action Plans are the main documents guiding the partnership between
the EU and its partner countries participating in the ENP. This
political document reflects the priorities agreed between a country
and the EU and spells out the planned economic and political reforms
with short and medium term priorities. More information can be found
in the ENP section of this website.
EU: a major donor
The EU is a major donor for the Neighbourhood. The total amount agreed
for the EU’s external relations package is €51,419 million over the
period 2014-2020. The Neighbourhood is also supported by some of the
other instruments. The other instruments and money allocated are:
- Instrument for Pre-accession Assistance (IPA): €11,699 million
- European Neighbourhood Instrument (ENI): €15,433 million
- Development Cooperation Instrument (DCI): €19,662 million
- Partnership Instrument (PI): €955 million
- Instrument contributing to Stability and Peace (IfSP): €2,339 million
- European Instrument for Democracy & Human Rights (EIDHR): €1,333 million
