The European Neighgourhood Policy

In addition to the ENP-related activities organized by the IAI in the framework of the EU CONSENT network, the following events have been held in the last years:
- 1 March 2004, Rome: Workshop on "The impact of Wider Europe and the new EU Neighbourhood Policy on the Euro-Mediterranean Partnership", in cooperation with the Arab-Italian Chamber of Commerce and the Institute for the Mediterranean;
- 26-27 November 2004, Rome: International conference on "The Challenges of the European Neighbourhood Policy", in cooperation with IPALMO, Rome, and PISM, Warsaw, whose reports have been published in March 2005 in La politica europea di vicinato (IAI Quaderni 22);
- 29-30 May , Rome: International conference IAI/CESPI "The EU and the Eastern Neighbours: Democracy and Stabilization without Accession?", in cooperation with The Polish Institute of International Affairs and Center for Peace, Conversion and Foreign Policy of Ukraine
- 23 November, Ankara: EU-Consent conference "The European Neighbourhood Policy and the Southern Mediterranean: Drawing from the Lessons of Enlargement", in cooperation with the Middle East Technical University.

In 2007, in the framework contract between TEPSA – of which the IAI is a member - and the European Parliament,  concerning the production of a series of studies on the European Neighbourhood Policy, the Black Sea region and the western Balkans, the IAI delivered two essays:

•     "The closed Armenia-Turkey border: economic and social effects, including those on the people; and implications for the overall situation in the region". Lead author:  Nathalie Tocci, IAI; coauthors Burcu Gültekin-Punsmann, Liciana Simao, and Nicolas Tavitian
•     "A Cost/Benefit Analysis of the ENP for the EU's Southern Partners", by Michele Comelli, IAI; coauthor: Maria Cristina Paciello.

After analysing the costs paid by Armenia and Turkey for the closure of their borders (April 2003) and after considering the positive effects that their re-opening could have on the region (including Russia, the Black Sea, Iran and Central Asia), the first essay suggests the first steps to take in this direction and the contribution that the EU can make in terms of incentives and support to the re-opening process.
The study was presented by its authors to the Euro-parliamentarians on November 7, in Brussels, on the occasion of a meeting of the EU-Turkey Joint Parliamentary Committee and the European Parliament Delegation to the EU-Armenia Parliamentary Cooperation Committee.
The news was spread by the Fédération Euro-Arménienne and the Public Radio of Armenia.

The second essay analyses costs and benefits of the reforms that the European Union is striving to introduce in the Southern Mediterranean countries through the European Neighbourhood Policy, and particularly through its Action Plans. The work starts from a close examination of the political, economic and social dynamics that characterize these countries – with particular regard to Egypt, Jordan and Morocco – and of the way these dynamics could favour/hamper the reforms promoted by the EU.The research ends with a series of policy recommendations aimed at supporting the accomplishment of the reforms and their acceptance both by the élites and the people.
After its publication on the European Parliament website, the study will be presented during a conference on the European Neighbourhood Policy organized by the TEPSA.