European Partnership Policy: Fostering dynamics and fighting root causes of flight

The aim of the project is to design a policy to promote political and economic stability in the European neighbourhood, to increase its economic dynamics and to strengthen good governance. The European Partnership Policy (EPP) builds on the European Neighbourhood Policy (ENP) and focuses on providing investment and finance, but also on stimulating endogenous firms and technologies based on a cooperative approach discussed with governments, regional authorities and civil society in the partnership countries. The new approach aims to incorporate existing initiatives and the strengths of the neighbouring countries as well as programmes at the European level and those of international organisations and NGOs. It will counteract populist and nationalist movements as well as disruptive emigration. The term European Neighbourhood refers to regions which are geographically close to the EU, but do not belong to Europe and do not have a prospect of accession: the Middle East and Africa, to the South, the Black Sea Region and the successor states of the Soviet Union, to the East.
The current paper provides twelve elements of successful partnerships, some of which are well known, but are developed further here. Together, they may be game changers that support a more active European Partnership Policy which should be welcomed by either partner as it is liable to increase dynamics and wellbeing and reduce the potential for conflict and disruptive migration. The EU-Africa Summit in November 2017 and the planned renewal of the existing compact of the EU with Africa, the Pacific and the Carribbean (Cotonou) under the Austrian Presidency in 2018 are the rationales behind this interim report.