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E.U. vows closer links with eastern, southern neighbours

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  • E.U. vows closer links with eastern, southern neighbours

    Deutsche Presse-Agentur
    March 2, 2005, Wednesday

    E.U. vows closer links with eastern, southern neighbours

    Brussels

    The European Commission on Wednesday announced new moves to reinforce
    relations with five states on its eastern and southern borders. The
    Commission, executive arm of the 25-nation European Union, said the
    bloc's so-called "neighbourhood policy" should be extended to Egypt,
    Lebanon, Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia. A final decision on whether
    or not the five countries will be included in the neighbourhood plan
    will be taken by E.U. governments. The Commission will then draw up
    detailed "action plans" for the neighbouring states with a view to
    encouraging reform and change in the five countries. Countries which
    are already part of the initiative include Israel, Jordan, Moldova,
    Morocco, the Palestinian Authority, Tunisia and Ukraine.
    Participation in the neighbourhood plan allows countries to forge
    closer political and economic relations with the E.U. However, it
    does not provide for membership of the bloc. The neighbourhood policy
    is designed to "prevent the emergence of new dividing lines in
    Europe," the Commission said. The blueprint is, however, inspired by
    the E.U.'s successful efforts to encourage reform in the eight former
    communist nations of central and eastern Europe which are now members
    of the E.U. Officials said the focus in coming months would be
    encourage political reform in the five neighbouring states through
    efforts to strengthen democracy, good governance and a dialogue on
    human rights Economic reform efforts would include actions to promote
    a good business and investment climate. Other measures include trade,
    market and regulatory reforms with the aim of allowing neighbours to
    participate in the E.U.'s frontier- free single market and
    cooperation in the field of justice, including legal reform and
    immigration issues. Countries participating in the initiative are
    also eligible for increased aid for the development of infrastructure
    networks (energy, transport and telecommunications, information
    society) and cooperation on environmental issues. Contacts between
    people are also encouraged. The Commission said the timing of the
    action plan drawn up for Lebanon would depend on the evolution of the
    political situation in the country following the murder last month of
    former premier Rafik Hariri. dpa si sc
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