Brussels, 03/04/2014 (Agence Europe) - On Thursday 3 April, the European Parliament argued in favour of a more coherent EU foreign policy, institutionally, financially and in terms of partnership with other countries and regional organisations.
In its adoption of the report by Arnaud Danjean (EPP, France) on “the EU comprehensive approach and its implications for the coherence of EU external action”, the EP stresses that it is vital for the external action of the Union to be coherent and coordinated effectively. The comprehensive approach is the best way of defining an effective response to multi-dimensional crises and to promote human safety in the world and the Union should not adopt a narrow definition of the comprehensive approach, the MEPs argue.
They are in favour of greater cooperation between the Commission and the EEAS. They call on High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Catherine Ashton to hold regular institutional meetings of the commissioners with responsibility for external relations, extended to include other competent commissioners. They call for greater coordination between all policies with a bearing on foreign affairs, such as development, trade, energy, the environment, the internal market and migration.
The Parliament calls on “all actors of the EU”, including the member states, to act in good faith and to do all in their power to allow the comprehensive approach to be set in place. The member states should play a constructive role by promoting the coordination of policies at Union level, they add. The MEPs call for progress in the implementation of the EU's foreign policies on the ground, explaining that the lack of coordination and planning of policies between the competent institutions is partly responsible for this poor implementation.
Whilst lamenting the EU's lack of budgetary ambition in the field of external action for the period 2014-2020, the EP underlines its determination to ensure that the financial instruments for external aid for this period are designed in such a way as to facilitate the implementation of a comprehensive approach to the external relations of the EU. (CG)