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

EU cannot stand by and watch Syria implode

13/03/2013

Addressing the plenary session of the European Parliament in Strasbourg today, Guy Verhofstadt pleaded for a more activist EU approach to Syria which, if allowed to rumble on, will destroy the country its people and have a...
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MFF: European Parliament rejects current deal and lays out its conditions for negotiations

13/03/2013

The European Parliament today firmly rejected the future budgetary framework proposal reached by EU leaders at their summit on 8th February. In the resolution, approved by a very large majority (506 in favour, 161 against, 23...
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Guy Verhofstadt today warns EU leaders against complacency over Eurozone economy

13/03/2013

"The European Council summit this week should not be complacent. The immediate pressure of the bond markets may have abated but the eurozone crisis is not yet out of the woods."
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