DIFFERENTIATION OF THE EASTERN AND SOUTHERN DIMENSIONS IN THE EUROPEAN NEIGHBORHOOD POLICY BEYOND 2020

Abstract

The European Neighbourhood Policy (ENP) took its conceptual roots in 2003 and was officially implemented in 2004 in response to the evolving boundaries of the European Union. This comprehensive policy framework encompasses two distinct regions labeled as the "Eastern Neighborhood Policy" and the "Southern Neighborhood Policy," covering a total of sixteen countries. Managed by the Directorate-General for Neighborhood and Enlargement under the European Commission, this entity oversees the EU's relations, negotiation processes, and budget planning with partner countries and those within the ENP framework. The ENP serves as a political framework for EU foreign policy, derived from the totality of bilateral relations.

The Southern Neighborhood framework predominantly revolves around economic and security relationships with Mediterranean countries, many of which were former European colonies. A significant milestone in the establishment of the Southern Neighborhood is the 1995 Barcelona Declaration. By 2008, the Union for the Mediterranean initiative was launched under France's leadership, decided by Heads of State and Government in Paris. This initiative acts as an operational institution, enhancing regional dialogue and supporting projects that directly impact citizens' lives.

The Eastern Partnership Initiative, as an extension of the ENP, emphasizes the significance of bilateral agreements and provides a framework that reinforces countries' ownership tendencies through multilateral institutions. It brought to the forefront a feature lacking in the ENP until 2009, extending neighborhood relations beyond regional forums.

In 2020, the European Commission unveiled its latest policy documents for these regions. The Southern dimension focuses on the concept of a "renewed partnership," while the Eastern dimension places emphasis on the theme of "resilience for all." This study aims to comparatively highlight the differences and similarities in the Eastern and Southern regions of the ENP and analyze the EU's foreign policy in these areas.