Interparliamentary Conference - Nicolas Schmit emphasised the need to focus, strengthen and reshape the European Neighbourhood Policy, taking into account the needs of the partners
Federica Mogherini i, High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, and Nicolas Schmit, the Luxembourg Minister responsible for relations with the European Parliament, on 5 September 2015
The Chamber of Deputies organised the interparliamentary conference on the common foreign and security policy (CFSP) in Luxembourg on 5 and 6 September 2015. Nicolas Schmit, the minister responsible for relations with the European Parliament during the Luxembourg Presidency of the EU Council, spoke on European challenges relating to the European Neighbourhood Policy (ENP).
Addressing the delegations from the national parliaments of EU Member States and the European Parliament, Nicolas Schmit stressed the 'major challenges' faced by the European neighbourhood, which has been 'shaken by numerous crises'. Concerning the eastern part of the EU, he referred in particular to the conflict in the east of Ukraine, while on southern Europe he spoke of 'tragic events' in the Mediterranean, the 'chaotic situation' in Libya, the war in Syria and the 'deadlock' in the Israeli-Palestinian peace process.
In this context, his view was that the ENP should be 'reconsidered'. 'Today, over ten years after its creation and after many adjustments, we can still identify weaknesses that we need to address to make the neighbourhood policy a success', said the Minister. 'The policy must be able to adapt to rapid changes in our neighbourhood, but also to the increasingly divergent aspirations of our partners in their relations with the European Union', he added.
In Nicolas Schmit's view, the ENP should also take into account the fact that the EU is not immune to the instability being experienced by its neighbours. 'In this sense, the neighbourhood policy, whatever form it may take, must be based on a proactive foreign and defence policy, because our security is also at stake here', he said.
Neighbourhood Policy with eastern countries
Concretely, with regard to neighbourhood policy with eastern countries, Nicolas Schmit indicated that the ambitions of the partners in their relations with the EU vary. 'This requires tailored packages for Armenia and Azerbaijan, and our progress with Belarus, Georgia and Ukraine in the field of mobility offers prospects for improving exchanges between citizens'. he said. In Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine, the implementation of association agreements and free trade agreements is 'the top priority'.
'It is clear that we cannot consider the Eastern Partnership without taking into account our relations with Russia', said Nicolas Schmit. He regretted the fact that the initial objective of 'promoting and strengthening mutual trust' had been replaced by 'fear and mistrust'. 'However, we still have a number of common interests with Russia, since we share the same continent', said the Minister. According to him, it is essential to continue to cooperate with Russia in multilateral bodies, but, in order for cooperation with Moscow in other areas to become possible again, respect for international law and, more specifically, the implementation of the Minsk agreements, is essential.
Neighbourhood policy with southern countries
'The events that took place in the Arab world in 2011, and subsequently, have truly transformed the region', said Nicolas Schmit. His view was that in some Southern partner countries, such as Tunisia, this has led to 'positive' policy changes. Other countries are going through 'complex transitions', are 'exposed to fallout from the Syrian crisis' or 'are still plagued by long-term conflicts'. As for Syria and Libya, the neighbourhood policy has ceased to exist, according to Mr Schmit.
'In Libya, the lack of functioning government, an increase in violence and the lack of control of migration flows to and from that country are factors favouring the emergence of criminal networks specialising in illegal migration and human trafficking to Europe', said the Minister.
Nicolas Schmit also said that the effect of the resumption of hostilities in Gaza in the summer of 2014 was to 'destroy livelihoods and 'decimate infrastructure that was already fragile'.
Migration
Nicolas Schmit believes that this situation of instability, which is bringing an unprecedented number of international protection seekers and immigrants to Europe's shores, has consequences for the EU's internal and external policy. He stressed the need for the EU and its partners to develop 'a common vision on better management of migration and mobility'.
The Minister stressed that the Luxembourg Presidency intends to step up EU cooperation with non-EU countries of origin, transit and destination for migrants. 'Becoming a member of the EU also implies becoming a country of destination, and not just a transit country; we must therefore strengthen the capacity of Western Balkan countries to build an asylum system, create sufficient reception capacity and strengthen their border management capacity', said the Minister. 'Responsibility for migration also lies with the African partners', he added.
Nicolas Schmit also presented the initiative of the Luxembourg Presidency for youth employment through vocational training in Maghreb countries. 'Young Tunisians must have prospects other than unemployment and exclusion, otherwise the only option is to become illegal migrants or become terrorists', he said.
While stressing the importance of the ENP, Nicolas Schmit concluded that it should be 'refocused, reorganised and strengthened', taking into account the needs of the partners.
According to Federica Mogherini, 'the East and South are equally important'
'Our neighbourhood has changed, and we have also changed: hence the need to review the ENP', said Federica Mogherini, High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy. In her view, this revision must be carried out using a 'differentiated' approach 'and on a "country by country" basis'.
She also stressed the fact that 'for all EU countries, East and South are equally important', and called on the parliamentarians to do everything possible in their respective capitals to ensure that the ENP and the civil-military missions of the EU are equipped with more resources. Referring to the informal meeting of foreign ministers (the 'Gymnich') held on 4 and 5 September 2015 in Luxembourg, she stressed the need for 'rapid' decisions in the coming weeks to be taken 'in solidarity'. According to her, cooperation with the countries of transit and origin of refugees is also necessary in order to prevent and resolve crises.
Finally, Federica Mogherini expressed hope that the next interparliamentary conference to be held under the Dutch presidency in Amsterdam will focus on the role of youth in Europe.
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