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European Commission started negotiations with Egypt and Lebanon on the ENP Action Plans

The European Commission takes the decision to start negotiation with Egypt and Lebanon on the ENP Action Plans, although for Lebanon the timing will depend on the evolution of the political situation. The purpose of these Action Plans will be to define a joint agenda for relations with the EU for the following three to five years, with the objective of deepening political co operation and economic integration. Meanwhile, the Commission published Country Reports, which give a factual analysis of political, economic and institutional reforms in the countries concerned, with a particular focus on areas which would form the basis of any future Action Plans, such as:

• Political reform: strengthening democracy, good governance and dialogue on human rights
  
• Economic reform: including promoting a good business and investment climate
  
• Trade, market and regulatory reforms: promoting trade and helping partner countries to integrate into the global trading system, encouraging partner countries to apply the standards of the EU's internal market
  
• Cooperation in the field of justice, liberty and security: judicial reform and migration issues
  
• Infrastructure networks (energy, transport and telecommunications, information society) and cooperation on the environment
  
• People-to-people contacts: education, research and development, culture, civil society, the opening of certain Community programmes.

To download Country Report on Egypt click here
To download Country Report on Lebanon click here

Now the parties are expected to negotiate the respected Action Plans. For Lebanon the Action Plan will set out priorities for action in two broad areas:

• Joint commitments to specific actions which reinforce adherence to shared values in areas including democracy and the rule of law, administration of justice and human rights and to certain objectives in the area of foreign and security policy;
  
• Joint commitments to actions which will bring the EU and Lebanon closer in a number of priority fields such as economic and social development policy (including sustainable development), trade and internal market (including sectors such as energy, transport, environment, maritime affairs and fisheries, information society, research and innovation, justice and home affairs and people-to-people contacts).
  For Egypt the Action Plan will set out priorities for action in the following areas broad areas:
  
• Joint commitments to specific actions which reinforce adherence to shared values in areas including democracy and the rule of law, administration of justice and human rights and to certain objectives in the area of foreign and security policy;
  
• Joint commitments to actions which will bring the EU and Egypt closer in a number of priority fields such as economic and social development policy (including sustainable development), trade and internal market (including sectors such as energy, transport, environment, maritime affairs and fisheries, information society, research and innovation, justice and home affairs and people-to-people contacts).
  

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