On Wednesday 6 July, the European Parliament gave its support to strengthening the Union’s contribution to rules-based multilateralism (see EUROPE 12660/6).
“The best strategy to defend multilateralism is to rebuild it by making it more relevant, resilient and effective”, say MEPs in the report by Javi López (S&D, Spain), which they adopted (454 votes in favour, 73 against and 112 abstentions).
In their view, the EU needs to be firmer in defending its interests and promoting the universal values on which it is based. It is important to strengthen the EU’s visibility and influence as a global player and support the role of multilateral fora, the European Parliament says.
MEPs believe it is of “paramount importance” for the EU to strengthen its external action and diplomatic toolbox with its own autonomous instruments, increasing its capacity to present itself as a global actor and “speak with one voice”, including by creating a European Diplomatic Academy.
While being a strong and key supporter of multilateralism, the EU must respond to global forces, such as increased fragmentation, the weaponisation of trade and protectionism, in order to preserve its competitive advantages, warns the European Parliament.
It also calls for a strengthening of the United Nations and the EU’s participation in it, and for the development of stronger global partnerships to achieve common goals.
MEPs stress the particular relevance “not only of traditional transatlantic or European partners such as the US and Canada, as well as the UK, the Western Balkans and other countries of the Southern and Eastern Neighbourhood, but also of other like-minded democratic allies in Latin America, the Indo-Pacific, and Africa”.
See the report: https://aeur.eu/f/2id (Original version in French by Camille-Cerise Gessant)