The European Commission Vice-President and High Representative of the Union for Foreign and Security Policy presented new proposals on improving the EU's support to countries undergoing major political, social and economic reforms, the so-called transition countries. Catherine Ashton highlighted that support needs to combine long-term strategies with tangible short-term achievements. The EU can make sure to secure quick wins in such areas as facilitating credible elections, supporting programmes for job creation and growth but also by strengthening peace and security.

Catherine Ashton, the European Commission Vice-President and High Representative of the Union for Foreign and Security Policy, presented a Communication which includes some proposals on improving the EU's support to countries undergoing major political, social and economic reforms – so-called transition countries. This comes at a time of historical transformational changes in the Southern Neighbourhood region following the popular uprisings witnessed over the past year and a half in the Arab world and beyond. The European Commission presented in August 2012 its Annual Report 2012 on development and external aid.

The proposals in the “Joint Communication on EU Support for Sustainable Change in Transition Societies” aim at helping partner countries and their citizens achieve accountable government, political freedom, economic inclusiveness, decent jobs, social justice and equity. This approach comprises incentives (such as more support for greater reform efforts an approach embedded in new programmes such as the "Support for Partnership, Reform and Inclusive Growth", SPRING, for the Southern Neighbourhood countries) as well as constraints (such as sanctions) to foster reforms. It emphasises the important role of civil society in reform processes and political dialogue, as well as at the core of one of the newly created instruments for the Neighbourhood countries, the Civil Society Facility (CSF). Among other things it also calls for better cooperation with EU Member States and international and regional organisations.

The Communication, as it is highlighted by the Commission, draws on the rich experience of transition many EU Member States have themselves, but also on the success of EU policies within the enlargement process, Neighbourhood policy and development cooperation. It aims at better mobilising the full range of available EU tools to support transition countries in their reforms, and to help them avoid backsliding.