EU in the World

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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.

News

Council must not ignore Parliament and absence of women on ECB board

01/11/2012

Guy Verhofstadt, ALDE group leader, today is maintaining the political pressure on Council to rectify the embarrassing absence of women at the top of the governing bodies of the European Central Bank as ministers attempt to seal...
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Verhofstadt: EPP sells Parliament short by undermining democratic vote on Mersch nomination

25/10/2012

Reacting to the statement issued today by the EPP that the Council should proceed with the appointment of Mr Mersch, despite a negative opinion by the Parliament, Guy Verhofstadt, president of the ALDE group, said:
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Verhofstadt on ECB gender balance: "Van Rompuy fails to address concerns"

23/10/2012

Following last night's vote in Parliament's economic and monetary affairs committee, which resulted in a negative recommendation on the candidature of Yves Mersch for the vacant position on the ECB's executive board, Herman van...
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