
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.
Verhofstadt calls on EU to back Syrian National Council
Intervening today in a debate on Syria in Strasbourg, Guy Verhofstadt, ALDE group leader, called for the EU High Representative to have a clear strategy towards Syria when she attends the planned 'Contact Group for the Friends of...
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VERHOFSTADT URGES ASHTON TO FORM CONTACT GROUP FOR CLEAR ACTION ON SYRIA
Guy Verhofstadt, ALDE group leader in the European Parliament, has written to HR/VP Ashton urging her to step up joint action with Arab states, Turkey and US to form a 'friends of the Syrian people' Contact Group without delay...
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Syria: Another Srebrenica is happening before our eyes
As a further military push by the Syrian army to take Homs appears imminent, Guy Verhofstadt, ALDE group leader, issued the following criticism of the International Community's failure to stop the slaughter.
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