
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: EU shares responsibility for Italian election result
The result of the Italian elections has delivered a political stalemate which will only add to uncertainty about the country's ability to reform and recover from recession.
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Guy Verhofstadt on the tragic accident involving Alexander Alvaro
Guy Verhofstadt, President of the ALDE Group in the European Parliament said on having been informed about the tragic accident involving Alexander Alvaro and three other people last Friday night.
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European Redemption Fund to be fully assessed in return for agreement on Two-Pack
Today, the EU institutions finally reached an agreement on the 'two-pack' to further enhance the coordination and supervision of budgetary surveillance for all euro-area Member States. Concretely, the 'two-pack' consists of one...
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