European Neighbourhood and Partnership Instrument (ENPI)

Period: 2007-2013

Budget: EUR 11 181 million

The ENPI will target to achieve sustainable development and will introduce a radical change in supporting cross-border cooperation along the EU's external borders. The main objective is to avoid new dividing lines. The ENPI will replace MEDA and TACIS and other existing instruments such as the European Initiative for Democracy and Human Rights (EIDHR).

The ENPI is a “policy driven” instrument. The framework of this instrument is provided by the existing bilateral agreements between the EU and the neighbouring countries. It will focus on supporting the implementation of the European Neighbourhood Policy (ENP) Action Plans. It will go beyond promoting sustainable development and fighting against poverty: progressive participation in the EU's internal market. Legislative approximation, regulatory convergence and institution building will be supported through exchange of experience, long-term twinning arrangements with Member States or participation in Community programmes.

Following countries are concerned by funding from ENPI:

MEDA countries: Algeria, Egypt, Gaza/West Bank (Palestine Authority), Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Morocco, Syria,* Tunisia, Libya,* Turkey

NIS countries: Ukraine, Belarus*, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Tajikistan, Kirghizistan, Georgia, Azerbaijan, Armenia

* The full benefits of the European Neighbourhood Policy cannot currently be extended to Belarus, Libya or Syria. Belarus and the EU will be able to develop contractual relations when Belarus has established a democratic government, following free and fair elections. Libya would need to first become part of the Barcelona Process before having an Association Agreement and eventually an ENP Action Plan. For Syria, the Association Agreement would have to be ratified before an ENP Action Plan could be considered.

A specific and innovative feature of the European Neighbourhood Partnership Instrument (ENPI) is its Cross-Border Cooperation (CBC) component. Under this component, the ENPI will finance “joint programmes” bringing together regions of Member States and partner countries sharing a common border. This component will be co-financed by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) . An estimated amount of EUR 233 million per year (in 2004 prices) will be allocated from ERDF to CBC between the Member States and neighbour countries covered by the ENPI and by the IPA.

Types of actions under ENPI-CBC should center on the following four axes:

• Promoting sustainable economic and social development in border areas

• Working together to address common challenges

• Ensuring efficient and secure borders

• People-to-people cooperation

Regulation (EC) No 1638/2006 laying down general provisions establishing a European Neighbourhood and Partnership Instrument PDF

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