As a long-term goal, the EU should encourage these countries to establish a network of DCFTAs among themselves or regional free-trade agreements based on the bilateral commitments undertaken in the DCFTAs with the EU.

Nevertheless, the objective of establishing a DCFTA will form an integral part of the AAs, with a commitment to start negotiations on a WTO-compatible deep and comprehensive free trade area as soon as the partner country is sufficiently advanced in its preparation to negotiate, implement and sustain the effects of a far-reaching liberalisation.

It will include the upgrading of contractual relations towards association agreements; the prospect of negotiations to put in place deep and comprehensive free trade areas with each country and greater support to meet the related requirements, leading to the establishment of a network of FTAs that can grow into a Neighbourhood Economic Community in the longer term; progressive visa liberalisation in a secure environment; deeper co operation to enhance the energy security of the partners and the EU; and support for economic and social policies designed to reduce disparities within each partner country and across borders. A new Compreh ...[+++]ensive Institution-Building (CIB) programme will be needed to improve the capacity of each partner to undertake the necessary reforms.

As regards the economic and financial chapter, the action plan, while recalling the objective of creating a Euro-Mediterranean free trade area by 2010, supports the Agadir process creating a free area between Morocco, Tunisia, Egypt and Jordan.

(b) advantages granted with the aim of creating a customs union or a free-trade area or pursuant to the creation of such a union or area; the terms 'customs union` and 'free trade area` shall have the same meaning as those described in paragraph 8 of Article XXIV of the GATT or created through the procedure indicated in paragraph 10 of the same GATT article;

create the necessary conditions for the future establishment of a free trade area between the EU and Russia covering substantially all trade in goods between them as well as conditions for bringing about freedom of establishment of companies, of cross-border trade in services and of capital movements.