Brussels, 28/07/2004 (Agence Europe) - The Director General for external relations at the European Commission, Eneko Landaburu, appealed on Tuesday, to the European Parliament foreign affairs committee (still presided by Elmar Brok), for an EU foreign policy that is "more visible, more coherent and more efficient". The Union needs strategies and clear priorities that have to coherently guide the whole of the EU's external relations in all the different political areas. This is why the impact of EU foreign policy has to be maximised, explained Mr Landaburu.
Main objectives of the EU's foreign policy, cited by the Director General include: respect for human rights; strengthening of multilateralism; political and economic stabilisation of the Balkans. The situation in this region remains a "major worry", notably in Serbia and Montenegro, as well as in Kosovo where separatists are putting the concept of a unitary and multi-ethnic state that respect minority rights, in peril; the intensification of relation with neighbours of the enlarged Union (main via the new European Neighbourhood Policy); deepening of Trans-Atlantic relations despite "objective difficulties" that currently exist between Brussels and Washington, particularly with the Bush Administration; stabilisation and democratisation of Russia; Asia (notably China, Japan and India); Latin America.
Landaburu was also asked by MEPs on a long list of international questions: the situation in Sudan/Darfur. The situation is serious "and I am as concerned about this human catastrophe as you". The Commission is doing what it can in the remit of its competencies, namely, to bring humanitarian aid to the victims. We are working day and night" to reduce as much as we can, the suffering of these people but getting the aid through is not always easy, explained Mr Landaburu. The EU has put pressure on the Sudanese government (see declaration adopted on Monday by the "General Affairs Council" in EUROPE 27 July p 4) so that it respects its commitments to immediately put an end to human rights violations. "What are you going to do if this commitment is not respected?"."We, the governments and the European Union, we should work rapidly, without ruling out military intervention. This however, does not come under the competence of the Commission", Mr Landabru said in response to the question; - Ukraine. Does not the fact that Ukraine had renounced its goal of joining the EU and NATO (see yesterday's EUROPE, p.6) constitute a failure of the EU's neighbour policy?, Mr Landabru asked. No, the EU has always said that it wanted "strong" neighbourly relations with Kiev but has never offered Ukraine membership. It is up to Ukraine itself to define its own foreign policy strategies. The EU cannot impose anything on it in this respect; - the "Yukos" affair in Russia. This is no doubt a personal "settling of scores" which must not be considered as proof that President Putin intends to control Russia's private economy. Nonetheless, investors are "worried". The Commission, moreover, has sent a note to Prime Minister Fradkov expressing the hope that the matter would not bring the reform and stability process in Russia into question, Mr Landabru said.