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The research done for the Eurocommission by the “Eurobarometer” service has proved that the majority of people of the friend-states of the EU support the efforts of strengthening the cooperation with the neighbor-states of the EU. Most of the respondents consider the working
together in the spheres of fighting organized crime and terrorism, nature
protection, energy, economic development, migration, democracy and higher
education as a very important. The larger part of the European population think
that assisting the neighbouring countries would promote spreading of democracy
and peace outside the EU borders, and about half of the people suppose that the
neighbouring countries want to cooperate with the EU for the purpose of inner
reforms.
The EU Commissioner on Foreign Affairs and
Neighbourhood Policy Benita Ferrero-Waldner stated: “This survey proves that people of the Union learn more and more about
the European Neighbourhood Policy (ENP), and the Europeans understand the benefits of close relations with
countries, that have common water or land borders with us. If we improve our cooperation
in the spheres of crime-fighting, trade, energy or migration, we will receive
considerable positive outcome for both sides”.
She also added: “ENP is a policy, beneficial for everyone: helping our nearest
neighbours to achieve prosperity and stability makes Europe a better place to
live. In time, I hope, more people will understand that this policy strengthens
security of us all, and that the benefits of ENP are worth the money paid”.
The main results are as follows:
- The majority of respondents
consider cooperation with the neighbouring countries important and very
important in the spheres of crime-fighting (89%), nature protection and
energy (86%), economic development (85%), democracy (82%), higher
education (81%) and migration (71%).
- The political aspects of the
ENP have strong support: 73% think that the EU could help the development
of democracy in those countries, 67% think that assistance to the
neighbouring countries could lower the risk of war in Europe, and 62%
think that close cooperation with the neighbours could stop the illegal
migration.
- What regards price and results,
the obvious majority (61%) thinks that cooperation with the neighbours
could bring mutual benefits, but 79% are worried about the costs. 61%
thinks that helping the neighbours to improve their living conditions will
do the same to the EU itself, and 74% think that helping the neighbours
will allow the companies from the EU to gain new markets. Nevertheless,
45% are worried that supporting reforms in the other countries could
threaten the security and stability in the EU.
- For the last year the ENP
knowledge level has raised (one out of five respondents have already heard
about this policy)
This research is based on 27 000 of interviews,
conducted from the 25th of May to 30 of June 2007 in the 27 EU
friend-countries.
The European Neighbourhood Policy
The ENP was designed to help raise the
living conditions, stability and security in the EU and its neighbouring
countries.
The ENP offers political and economic
preferences to 16 countries that border the EU, and is based on the existing
relations (Partnership, cooperation and association treaties,
Euro-Mediterranean partnership). Cooperation in the ENP is based on common
values (democracy, human rights, supremacy of law, good governing, market
economy and stable development)
Additional information on the ENP could be
found here:
ec.europa.eu
Christiana Homan 02/29 91196
Concha Fernandez-de-la-Puente 02/29 52977
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