Brussels, 12/03/2015 (Agence Europe) - On Thursday 12 March, the members of the European Parliament called for a more ambitious, proactive, credible and strategic EU foreign policy.
In its adoption (336 votes in favour, 145 against and 64 abstentions) of the annual report by Elmar Brok (EPP, Germany) on the common foreign and security policy (CFSP), the Parliament suggested improvements to the internal working methods and institutional structures, the preservation and reinforcement of the European political and legal order and the strengthening of the global order based on rules. The EP believes that a “credible” EU foreign policy should be “backed up by adequate defence capabilities of the member states and an effective common security and defence policy (CSDP)”.
The MEPs express concern at the “lack of coordination and consistency between the policies of the Union” and argue that “financial constraints are still restricting Europe's influence in the world and its role in the service of regional and global security”.
Supporting the EU's eastern neighbours which wish to move closer to the EU must be an absolute priority for the EU, the Parliament adds, stressing that the EU should also substantially revise its policy towards its southern neighbours. The EU should also play a key role in conflict resolution, the MEPs add. (Camille-Cerise Gessant)