The European Union is ready to offer closer cooperation to Moldova, but this is the E.U.'s new preference for creating "enhanced" or "privileged" partnerships with its neighbors, rather than talking about enlargement.

Last month, the European Commission presented its annual assessment of the implementation of the European Neighborhood Policy and called it a "resounding success." The policy (ENP) currently covers 16 countries in the southern and eastern parts of the European Union. Commissioner for External Relations Benita Ferrero-Waldner introduced plans for an upgrade in the E.U.'s ties with four of these partners through a "targeted deepening of relations."

The four states that will be targeted are Moldova, Morocco, Israel and Ukraine They are seen by Brussels as the most ambitious and have gone furthest in achieving the reform goals set out in their ENP Action Plans. Deeper relations will be pursued within the context of the ENP and will use the "action planning" method, which sets out mutually agreed targets through benchmarking to upgrade political and economic relations.

According to Forbes, all four states will benefit financially by significant extra top-up funds from the E.U.'s governance facility, already awarded to Morocco and Ukraine in 2007.

Moldova was praised by the commission for its strong "political will" to carry out political and economic reforms, as well as its commitment to resolving the Transnistria conflict. The E.U. announced that it will work toward a new partnership agreement beyond the scope of the current Partnership and Cooperation Agreement, which is about to expire.

The ENP was designed to bring neighboring states closer to the E.U. but to stay mute on the question of membership. The new deals outlined by Ferrero-Waldner reinforce this formula since the special partnerships were announced without reference to enlargement // Reporter.MD


Publication date: 13 May 2008   

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