While reading about EU involvement in solving the various conflicts in the Caucasus, I came across a mention of The European Neighbourhood Policy. Intrigued, I went looking for more. The map alone is telling:

This policy is both nothing new and very new. While the EU and its member states of course already have their own policies in place regarding other members and neighbords both near and far, this is a coherent and collective attempt to achieve specific foreign policy goals on an EU level. In short, the EU has carved out its own sphere of influence and although they say actions speak louder than words, both seem to be soft at the moment. Nevertheless, the program works as follows

In order to realise the vision of building an increasingly closer relationship, with our neighbours, and a zone of stability, security and well-being for all, the EU and the partner country agree on reform objectives across a wide range of fields (from cooperation on political and security issues, to economic and trade matters, common environmental concerns, integration of transport and energy networks, scientific and cultural cooperation). The EU provides financial and technical assistance to support the implementation of these objectives, in support of the efforts of our partner countries themselves.

With thinking that would make Tom Barnett proud, the European Union will join America, Australia and South Africa in their realization that their own prosperity, not to mention security, is intimately linked with that of its neighbors and thus it’s essential to shrink the Gap.

The E.U. Neighborhood Policy works like many other transition programs. Country reports are created, action plans for each country are then formulated and then periodic progress reports are issued as the E.U. monitors and assists the target country. While I agree that Europe and America have been moving in different directions (regardless of the WOT), this is one thing that the 1st world is agreeing ever more strongly on and this example is an important one. Let’s hope the E.U. doesn’t continue to focus inward too much at the expense of its neighbors.

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