Brussels, 15/04/2015 (Agence Europe) - On Monday 13 April, experts called on the EU to change its policy towards the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region.
“Changing the EU's foreign policy to fit the challenges of the MENA region better is crucial”, said Gama Abdel Gawad Soltan from the American University of Cairo (Egypt) at a debate in the European Parliament's foreign affairs committee. “Stability and prosperity in the Middle East states should be something of importance for the EU”, said Sir John Jenkins, director general of the International Institute of Strategic Studies.
“An important question to ask is what the EU can do in real politics. To be effective, a new balance should be sought between the ideological principles of the EU as a soft power and the strategic interests and considerations of the EU in the Middle East. This is a decision that the EU must take”, said Soltan, highlighting a balance between ideas and an “effective and pragmatic” policy. “Knowledge is needed of what is happening on the ground. The role of the EEAS and diplomatic services in the region is important. It enables knowledge of what is happening and of how to take precise action”, said Jenkins.
Soltan also underlined the need to establish differentiation between the countries of the MENA region. “The region is very diverse. It does not allow a uniform policy. A differentiated policy should be implemented”, he said, adding that to have an effective policy of conditionality, action should be taken on a case-by-case basis and not uniformly. (Camille-Cerise Gessant)