9.11.2006 Official Journal of the European Union L 310/1 (Acts whose publication is obligatory) REGULATION (EC) No 1638/2006 OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL of 24 October 2006 laying down general provisions establishing a European Neighbourhood and Partnership Instrument THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION, Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Commu- nity, and in particular Articles 179 and 181a thereof, Having regard to the proposal from the Commission, Acting in accordance with the procedure laid down in Article 251 of the Treaty (}), Whereas: 1 ©) O A new framework for planning and delivering assistance is proposed in order to make the Community’s external assistance more effective. This Regulation constitutes one of the general instruments providing direct support for the European Union’s external policies. The Copenhagen European Council of 12 and 13 December 2002 confirmed that enlargement of the European Union presents an important opportunity to take forward relations with neighbouring countries based on shared political and economic values, and that the European Union remains determined to avoid new dividing lines in Europe and to promote stability and prosperity within and beyond the new borders of the European Union. The Brussels European Council of 17 and 18 June 2004 reiterated the importance it attached to strengthening cooperation with those neighbours, on the basis of partnership and joint ownership and building on shared values of democracy and respect for human rights. The privileged relationship between the European Union and its neighbours should build on commitments to common values, including democracy, the rule of law, good governance and respect for human rights, and to the principles of market economy, open, rule-based and fair trade, sustainable development and poverty reduction. It is important that Community assistance under this Regulation be provided in compliance with the Opinion of the European Parliament of 6 July 2006 (not yet published in the Official Journal) and Council Decision of 17 October 2006. international agreements and international conventions to which the Community, the Member States and the partner countries are parties and that it be delivered taking into account the general principles of international law commonly accepted by the parties. In eastern Europe and the southern Caucasus, the Partner- ship and Cooperation Agreements provide the basis for contractual relations. In the Mediterranean, the Euro- Mediterranean Partnership (the Barcelona Process) provides a regional framework for cooperation which is comple- mented by a network of Association Agreements. Under the European Neighbourhood Policy, a set of priorities are defined together by the European Union and the partner countries, to be incorporated in a series of jointly agreed Action Plans, covering a number of key areas for specific action, including political dialogue and reform, trade and economic reform, equitable social and economic development, justice and home affairs, energy, transport, information society, environment, research and innovation, the development of civil society and people-to-people contacts. Progress towards meeting these priorities will contribute to realising the full potential of the Partnership and Cooperation Agreements and the Association Agree- ments. In order to support the partner countries’ commitment to common values and principles and their efforts in the implementation of the action plans, the Community should be in a position to provide assistance to those countries and to support various forms of cooperation among them and between them and the Member States with the aim of developing a zone of shared stability, security and prosperity involving a significant degree of economic integration and political cooperation. Promotion of political, economic and social reforms across the neighbourhood is an important objective of Commu- nity assistance. In the Mediterranean this objective will be further pursued within the Mediterranean strand of the