
Promoting a coherent European strategy in the World
The development of a coherent European foreign policy is essential if the Union is to play a role in the world. The Union must focus on its traditional strengths and put a very strong and special emphasis on human rights and democracy promotion. Foreign policy must always promote and defend European values and in a way that reflects the uniqueness of the European Union.
The development of the External Action Service will be a key element in providing the Union with the tools for greater coherence and efficiency. The Union must develop its foreign policy potential enabling it to act in a way commensurate with its weight in financing development and peace building policies.
The Union must also have a clear agenda of human rights and bring its experience in conflict resolution and crisis management to bear. The Union must also be involved in humanitarian relief missions where either human conflict or nature have caused devastation.
Finally, the Union must develop its defence procurement thereby enabling the emergence of a truly common defence market, strengthening European defence and its technological and industrial base through the exploitation of economies of scale and ensuring European forces benefit from the best equipment when sent on ESDP missions.
Member States must endorse an EU strategy against tax fraud, evasion and tax havens
Ahead of tomorrow's EU Summit, due to focus on tax fraud and tax evasion, the European Parliament adopted today its own recommendations that all Member States should endorse a common European strategy against tax fraud, evasion...
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Media freedom and pluralism: Commission must take all EP recommendations on board
Member States and the Commission should take appropriate measures to ensure better monitoring and enforcement of media freedom and pluralism across the EU, given that this right has become legally binding with the entry into...
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EU leaders must address growing euroscepticism caused by crisis
"EU leaders tomorrow need to produce actions not more words and address the issues that are giving rise to increased euroscepticism across the EU," said Guy Verhofstadt in a debate today in Strasbourg ahead of tomorrow's EU...
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