Central to the ENP are the bilateral Action Plans or Association Agendas between the EU and each ENP partner (12 of them were agreed). These set out an agenda of political and economic reforms with short and medium-term priorities of 3 to 5 years. ENP Action Plans/Association Agendas reflect each partner's needs and capacities, as well as their and the EU’s interests. The ENP is not yet ‘activated’ for Algeria, Belarus, Libya and Syria. An Action Plan with Algeria is currently under negotiation.

Under the ENP, the EU works together with its partners to develop democratic, socially equitable and inclusive societies, and offers its neighbours economic integration, improved circulation of people across borders, financial assistance and technical cooperation toward approximation with EU standards.

Cooperation in specific sectors

Better cooperation in specific sectors means improving daily living conditions of citizens in a tangible way:

• Through sector cooperation, the ENP promotes the respect for the basic principles of dignity and equality, human rights, and social and economic justice.  These principles are embodied in democratic legal systems and the rule of law, and guaranteed by independent courts.  Efficient and accessible courts protect citizens from arbitrariness, ensure respect for their fundamental rights and guarantee effective justice for all.  Cooperation in reforming the judicial sector and in the fight against corruption forms one of the main priority areas of the ENP in partner countries.
• The ENP links partner countries with the EU's internal market and its social and economic model. For partners, this means adopting basic rules on equal opportunities, economic participation and fair competition. It means ensuring well-governed institutions and access to social services for all citizens. It implies the promotion of environmental and consumer protection standards, food safety, healthy and safe working conditions. On this basis, the ENP creates the right conditions for economic growth and job creation.
• The ENP connects the EU with its neighbours, promoting trade, the building of networks in energy and transport, or fostering tourism. It builds bridges between people, facilitates mobility and fosters inter-cultural understanding.  It pays particular attention to educational and youth exchanges, with the aim of fostering human capital development and well-educated, strong and responsible societies.
  Sector policy dialogue and cooperation are a basic element of the ENP and a concrete translation of the EU's foreign policy in the neighbourhood.  By bringing the neighbours closer to its policies and standards, the EU promotes its core values of just, well-governed societies, promoting social development and economic opportunities to all their citizens.

Support and agreements

The European Commission provides financial support in grant form to partners; the European Investment Bank and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development complement this support through loans. The civil society plays an important role in contributing to democracy and good governance building in partner countries. The EU supports organisations via the Civil Society Facility.

The ENP builds upon the legal agreements in place between the EU and the partner in question: Partnership and Cooperation Agreements (PCA) or Association Agreements (AA). Implementation of the ENP is jointly promoted and monitored through the Committees and sub-Committees established in the frame of these agreements. The European External Action Service and the European Commission publish each year the ENP Progress Reports. The assessments and recommendations contained in the Progress Reports form the basis for EU policy towards each ENP partner under the "more for more" principle.

The 'more for more' principle applies to all incentives proposed by the EU: policy developments as well as to financial assistance (excluded humanitarian assistance, refugee & external borders funds and support to civil society). Partners determinedly embarking on political reforms should be offered, in addition to the incentives available to other partners, those that relate to the most ambitious elements of:

• Market access: economic integration and development (DCFTAs),
• Mobility of people (mobility partnerships,
• A greater share of the EU financial support

In that context, the Commission has decided to set up specific programmes both for the Eastern (EAPIC) and Southern (SPRING) neighbours that will allocate extra financial support only to those neighbours taking clear and concrete steps on political reforms. In addition, a new Civil Society Facility was created in September 2011 to strengthen the capacity of civil society to promote and monitor reforms, and increase public accountability.

• Energy cooperation helps to increase energy security in the EU-ENP area. The aim is secure and stable energy at affordable prices.
• The EU is increasingly interconnected with the energy systems of its neighbours, and remains dependent on energy supplies from outside the EU. The security and stability of the EU's energy supply is therefore dependent on the security and safety of our neighbours' energy infrastructure and supply. Several neighbouring countries (and their neighbours) directly supply energy to the EU or are transit countries for EU energy supplies.
• Energy cooperation fosters trade and creates business opportunities, thereby contributing to economic growth and job creation.
• The EU makes considerable efforts to increase its energy efficiency. Our neighbours have started to make the same effort, but some neighbours are among the least energy efficient economies in the world.
• With the objective of promoting the use of more sustainable energy the EU works with neighbours on nuclear power plant safety and security (for example the EU is asking Armenia to close its nuclear power plant as soon as possible) and clean energy (including renewable energy sources such as solar and wind). In the same spirit the EU also works with neighbouring countries to combat climate change, preserve the environment, contribute to a healthier life for citizens, make industries more efficient and competitive, create jobs and boost socio-economic growth.

In most economies small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are the engine of economic growth and job creation.

• EU cooperation with neighbouring countries improves the operating environment of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) by reducing red tape.
• By approximating their economic regulations with those of the EU, neighbouring countries lay the basis for a fair treatment of all enterprises in areas such as customs, taxation and licencing.
• EU cooperation and support improves the availability of credit for SMEs and allow them to invest in modernising and expanding their activities.
• Helping SMEs become successful contributes to fairer and more inclusive economic growth.

• Effective management of public finances ensures that scarce public resources are used efficiently. This enhances people's trust in governments.
• Cooperation helps to improve the planning of public spending to better reflect policy decisions.
• Cooperation supports the reinforcement of internal and external controls of all public expenditure, which helps to ensure accountability.

• The existence of effective rules to ensure that companies compete fairly and effectively contributes to economic development and encourages innovation. As a result, consumers have more choice in the goods and services available to them and better value-for-money.
• Anti-trust policy improves economic opportunities for all and fosters inclusive development.
• Limiting state aid in a fair manner to areas where it is really necessary provides space for fair competition by better and cheaper producers and allows a more efficient use of scarce public resources.

• European Neighbourhood Policy promotes good governance and the modernisation of tax systems in order to combat cross-border tax fraud and tax evasion without hindering trade, investment and fair competition.
• For example, tax cooperation aiming to decrease the high excise duty differences on tobacco products (cigarettes etc.) between the EU and its partners, helps to reduce crimes such as smuggling across common borders, increases budget revenues and contributes to a higher level of health protection.

• Cooperation through the European Neighbourhood Policy supports the modernisation of the agricultural sector and the development of rural areas. This improves the livelihoods of people in rural areas, creates jobs for farmers and increases their income. 
• Through cooperation, consumers in neighbouring countries benefit from the increased quality and safety of locally grown produce. 
• The European Neighbourhood Policy promotes organic farming and the prudent use of genetic engineering, which protects consumers’ health and ensures they know exactly what they are buying. Additionally, the policy tackles climate change by supporting reforestation, combating desertification and promoting biodiversity.
• High-quality, renowned products are the target of counterfeiting, in particular the copying and passing off of well-known geographical indications, such as 'Chablis', 'Queso Manchego' or 'Prosciutto di Parma'. In an increasingly globalised marketplace, the protection of geographical indications, gives international protection for unique and valuable local products for the benefit of consumers and producers.

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• Bilateral relations with neighbour countries
• International trade and protection of geographical indications

• The European Neighbourhood Policy promotes reforms in the area of statistics in order to make partner's statistical data and systems reliable and independent. Trustworthy and timely statistics are vital for any democracy. It is crucial for governments and policymakers to develop successful policies and for citizens to hold their government accountable by monitoring progress towards declared goals.
• Among other data, our neighbours will have more accurate information on the numbers of people, where they live and what their needs are. This will allow governments to identify certain issues better (e.g. the level of unemployment, the composition of households), and to address them better (e.g. where to build schools and hospitals). Such informed decisions lead to a wiser spending of taxpayer's money.

• By exchanging expertise and best practice, EU and countries participating in the European Neighbourhood Policy can better adapt to the consequences of climate change and become more resilient to impacts such as water scarcity, droughts, rises in sea levels, floods and storms.
• The ENP promotes investment in developing low carbon economies, including through promoting energy efficiency and renewable energy sources, which contributes to mitigating climate change and helps partner countries reach emission reduction commitments.

• The EU’s European Neighbourhood Policy improves the level of protection and enforcement of intellectual property in partner countries, which is crucial for competing in the global economy and stimulating investments. Intellectual property rights (IPRs) (such as patents, trademarks, designs, copyrights or geographical indications) enable inventors, creators and businesses to prevent unauthorised exploitation of their creations, and in return to get a return on their investment. Enforcement of these rights within the EU and outside benefits the EU’s economic growth and helps create jobs.
• Increased IPR protection provides guarantees regarding the quality and safety of products to consumers in the EU and its neighbourhood. Many counterfeit products place children's and citizens' safety or health at risk, for instance where vehicle spare parts or drugs are concerned. Enforcing IPR guarantees that the products are genuine.

• European Neighbourhood Policy partner countries are among those with the world’s youngest populations. Investing in education increases not only individuals' chances to find a good job, but also their opportunities in life. Better education means a more informed democracy and helps increase social and economic development.
• Working with the EU’s eastern neighbours on improving higher education helps universities having their diplomas recognised by other countries, helping to improve job opportunities for graduates. 
• Youth exchanges between the EU and partner countries, the training of young people and youth workers, partnerships and networks of youth organisations foster mobility, inclusion and non-formal learning, as well as mutual understanding.
• Inter-cultural dialogue fosters mutual understanding, the work and exchange of cultural operators, the protection of monuments and cultural heritage and enhances (cultural) tourism.

• Information society policy cooperation aims at creating a fair, competitive and transparent market for communications and open use of internet for all. This underpins democracy and freedom of expression and contributes to cheaper communications for consumers. 
• Cooperation through the European Neighbourhood Policy leads to greater interoperability between the EU and partner countries and helps to boost trust in the internet and to fight cybercrime.

• Cooperation in research is a tool helping the EU and European Neighbourhood Policy partner countries to tackle common societal challenges such as energy security, health issues, a deteriorating environment and climate change. 
• Thanks to cooperation on research and resulting efficiencies, we can strengthen the economic and industrial competitiveness of neighbourhood partners.