
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.
Resource efficiency - Transformation to a green economy
On Wednesday 30th November 2011, ALDE MEPs Gerben-Jan Gerbrandy (D66, NL) and Catherine Bearder (LibDem, UK) organised a seminar in the European Parliament on improving resource efficiency in the context of declining availability...
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EP calls for strengthening the global fight against HIV / AIDS
Marking World AIDS Day tomorrow, 1st December, the European Parliament will vote on a Resolution which calls for an EU response to HIV/AIDS epidemic which remains a global challenge requiring a commitment from the whole of...
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Council agrees to EP proposal to limit phosphorus in consumer dishwasher detergents
At the meeting of the Permanent Representatives' Committee this morning, EU Member States agreed to accept the draft compromise on the proposals to limit the content of phosphorus permitted in consumer detergents.
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