Strasbourg, 26/09/2002 (Agence Europe) - History amply demonstrates the European Union's ability to strives for peace, but when it comes to war or peace, Europe does to speak as one, regretted Elmar Brok (CDU), chair of the foreign affairs committee, during the debate in plenary on Wednesday on his report on progress in implementing CFSP over the last twelve months (also see yesterday's EUROPE page 5). The most obvious example is that of Iraq: Mr. Brok strongly criticised both Tony Blair and Gerhard Schroeder, stating that the EU had no common position, whereas a strong Europe could lead the United States to find a peaceful solution with its allies in the framework of the UN. Mr. Brok also criticised the EU's development at military level: "next year, we shall be able to mobilise a force of 60,000 troops, but it will be "blind and limping", as it will have neither satellites nor adequate means of transport. The solution: an independent European armaments policy". More generally, Mr. Brok considers that Europe must lay down bridges with countries that cannot join the Union, notably Russia. In that context, the Commission's proposal for Kaliningrad seems to him a step in the right direction.
The Commissioner for external relations, Chris Patten, said he agreed with the rapporteur on the major tasks facing CFSP, none of which was easy: - relations with the United States: we are united against terrorism, we share the same values, but our interpretation of these values is not always the same; - fidelity to a multilateral approach to foreign policy; - CFSP structures and its relationship with NATO: if the EU does not have access to NATO assets, it will not be able to take over from the Alliance in Macedonia; - bilateral relations with the main countries of the world, and especially Russia, which is "becoming an increasingly important strategic partner". Chris Patten also placed emphasis on the consequences of enlargement on CFSP, before moving on to the "hot" points of international current affairs: the Western Balkans (where the integrity of the stabilisation and association process will have to be preserved), Afghanistan (where the government will have to be helped in extending its authority to the whole territory), and Iraq. Regarding the latter, Mr. Patten repeated that it was imperative to respect the authority of the United Nations and international law. "Political action is now in New York and that is where it should be, but at the same time we shall have to monitor closely if inspections may be conducted without excuses, without prevarication, without "ifs" and "buts"", he concluded.
Swedish Liberal Cecelia Malmstrom acknowledged that the transatlantic ally could be criticised, but was scathing at the anti-Americanism which, she said, only served to cover up Europe's weaknesses. For Luxembourg Socialist Jacques Poos, however, in the Iraqi affair Chancellor Schroeder had had the courage to say out loud what most citizens thought: it is a gesture of Europe's emancipation faced with the "imperial attempts of the Pentagon". "Schroeder is certainly not my spokesman," British Conservative Geoffrey van Orden countered, urging the Europeans to forget the "distraction" of a European rapid intervention force separate from NATO, and rather act within the Alliance. George Bush's choices lead to a sort of pax romana which, in the times of the Romans, was not real peace, replied Luisa Morgantini, Italian member of the United Left, for whom Saddam Hussein has to be "changed", but it is up to his people to do so, choosing the path of democracy. You have proposed nothing regarding Iraq, lamented in turn Catherine Lalumiere, French member of the Socialist Group, also deploring the paralysis of the Mediterranean policy, which could play a major role in favour of peace. Here we see the limits of the intergovernmental approach to foreign policy: well, the method needs changing, said the former Secretary General of the Council of Europe.
The Elmar Brok report was discussed during a joint debate also covering the report by British Labour MEP Gary Titley on the control of arms exports. Two Belgian parliamentarians, Nelly Maes (Green/EFA) and Johan Van Hecke (EPP/ED) placed emphasis on the fact that the code of conduct must be binding: Belgium, Ms. Maes complained, has adopted the code but exports to Nepal, Pakistan and India. Mr. Van Hecke then drew attention to the fact that, according to a study, half arms deliveries do not respect the rules on certificates of destination.
By adopting the Brok report, the EP notably urges the Council to adopt a common position against an intervention in Iraq, whereas it rejected the amendment tabled by the GUE/NGL calling on the EU to reject any idea of pre-emptive war. The Titley report places special emphasis on account being taken in the code of conduct of arms exports of the control of arms brokerage; but plenary rejected the amendments tabled by the Greens/EFA calling for the code to be integrated in the legislation of Member states, that the EU draw up a list of countries towards which Member states would ban any arms exports and that Member states break off any relations in the field of the military industry with parties to the war in the Middle East. The two resolutions will be published in EUROPE/Documents.