15.3.2014 Official Journal of the European Union L77/27 REGULATION (EU) No 232/2014 OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL of 11 March 2014 establishing a European Neighbourhood Instrument THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION, Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, and in particular Articles 209(1) and 212(2) thereof, Having regard to the proposal from the European Commission, After transmission of the draft legislative act to the national parliaments, Having regard to the opinion of the European Economic and Social Committee ('), Having regard to the opinion of the Committee of the Regions (3), Acting in accordance with the ordinary legislative procedure (%), Whereas: (1) This Regulation establishes the European Neighbourhood Instrument (ENI) as one of the instruments providing direct support for the European Union’s external policies. It replaces Regulation (EC) No 1638/2006 of the Euro- pean Parliament and of the Council (*), which expired on 31 December 2013. (2)  Article 8 of the Treaty on European Union (TEU) provides that the Union is to develop a special relation- ship with neighbouring countries, aiming to establish an area of prosperity and good neighbourliness, founded on the values of the Union and characterised by close and peaceful relations based on cooperation. (3)  Under the European Neighbourhood Policy (ENP), the Union offers European Neighbourhood countries a privi- leged relationship, building upon a mutual commitment to, and promotion of, the values of democracy and human rights, the rule of law, good governance and the principles of a market economy and sustainable and inclusive development. 1t further provides, where () 0JC11,15.1.2013,p. 77. () 0JC391,18.12.2012,p. 110. (’) Position of the European Parliament of 11 December 2013 (not yet published in the O&aal Journal) and decision of the Council of 11 March 2014. (*) Regulation (EC) No 1638/2006 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 24 October 2006 laying down general provisions estab- lishing a European Neighbourhood and Partnership Instrument (OJL310,9.11.2006, p. 1). appropriate, a framework for enhanced mobility and people-to-people contacts, particularly through visa facili- tation and readmission agreements, and, on a case-by- case basis, through visa liberalisation. Since it was launched, the ENP has strengthened relations with partner countries and brought tangible benefits to both the Union and its partners, including the launch of regional initiatives and support to democratisation in the European Neighbourhood. A number of major develop- ments in the European Neighbourhood prompted a comprehensive strategic review of the ENP in 2011. The review provides, inter alia, for greater support to partners committed to building democratic societies and under- taking reforms in line with the incentive-based approach (‘more for more’) and the principle of ‘mutual account- ability’, partnership with societies and a more differen- tiated and tailor-made approach towards the individual partner countries. This Regulation should establish clear links between the ENP framework and the support to be provided under this Regulation. This Regulation should support the implementation of political initiatives that have shaped the ENP: the Eastern Partnership between the Union and its eastern neigh- bours, the Partnership for Democracy and Shared Pros- perity and the Union for the Mediterranean in the southern neighbourhood. Those initiatives are all strategi- cally important and offer equally meaningful political frameworks for deepening relations with and among partner countries, based on the principles of mutual accountability, shared ownership and responsibility. This Regulation should also support the implementation of regional cooperation throughout the European Neigh- bourhood, inter alia in the framework of the Northern Dimension policy or the Black Sea Synergy, as well as, primarily in the case of cross-border cooperation, the external aspects of relevant macro-regional strategies. The objectives of this Regulation should be pursued with the appropriate involvement of external action partners, including civil society organisations and local authorities, in preparing, implementing and monitoring Union support, given the importance of their roles. This Regu- lation should also support the strengthening of the capa- city of civil society organisations to guarantee effective domestic accountability and local ownership, and to play a full role in the democratisation process. This Regulation acknowledges the specific status of the Russian Federation as both a Union neighbour and a stra- tegic partner in the region.