Brussels, 05/10/2004 (Agence Europe) - The EU still does not have the political weight it needs to play the role it should at international level, to become a "global player" in the face of the many international conflicts and crises. Hence the need to mobilise "all instruments and forces possible" to develop the contribution the EU can make in areas where capacities already exist: conflict prevention, crisis management, reinforcing multilateralism, the fight against hunger and poverty and promoting human rights and democracy. This was the main message the Commissioner designate for external relations, Austria's current Foreign Minister Benito Ferrero-Waldner got across in her introduction at her hearing on Tuesday, before the EP's Committee on Foreign Affairs. The EU must be strong inside to be able to talk with one voice to the outside, and it must be coherent in all it does internationally, she said. For this reason, the Barroso Commission will take steps to coordinate all of these external actions, not only within the Directorate General for External Relations (Relex), but also with all other policies with an external flavour: external trade, development cooperation, enlargement, energy, etc, explained Ms Ferrero-Waldner. Cooperation between the institutions of the EU is also of primeval importance: the future Commissioner will therefore have "very close cooperation" with her "old friend" Javier Solana. Furthermore, "once the Constitutional Treaty is signed", the Commission and the Council will get to work to set up the new European diplomatic service planned in the Constitution, and which will also help to make the EU's international actions more visible and more effective.
Swapping effortlessly between German, French, Spanish and English, Ms Ferrero-Waldner answered questions on a wide range of subjects; she did so correctly, skilfully and showing a good knowledge of the dossiers, but sometimes appearing a bit too vague or evasive when she had to take a clear stance on politically delicate subjects. With perhaps one exception: her request for the EU to hold a permanent seat at the UN Security Council, "a body which no longer reflects the reality of the world today" (and where she has worked herself, with Secretary General Boutros-Ghali: Ed). If the EU manages to speak with one voice, then it would be logical for it to have its own seat in the UN decision-making body. Does this mean that the Commissioner will take a concrete initiative to this end, asked Antonio Tajani (EPP, Italy) and Poul Nyrup Rasmussen (PES, Denmark). No, it was more a "general idea", a long-term plan which will certainly not be possible overnight, but which should nonetheless be pursued with determination, said Ms Ferrero-Waldner.
Of the numerous subjects raised by the MEPs, relations with Russia dominated. It is very much in the EU's interests for Russia to be democratic, stable and strong and the EU will continue to support its efforts in this direction, "but Russia must also come towards us". The EU accepts that Russia refuses to take part in the European neighbourhood policy (ENP) and that it wants to be treated separately, under its own "strategic partnership", "something which is very close to my heart", said Mr Ferrero-Waldner. As part of this strategic partnership, "four common spaces" will be set up, "but believe me, I will also continue a very open political dialogue" with Moscow on all subjects, "including the sensitive issues" such as Chechnya and Russia's democratic situation. Answering a question from Helmut Kuhne (PES, Germany) on the "home-made causes" of the recent terrorist attacks in Russia, especially in Chechnya, the Commissioner designate expressed understanding for "Russia's concerns about preserving the integrity of its territory"- whilst condemning the methods employed by Moscow, "because human rights must be respected, even in the fight against terrorism". A political solution in Chechnya must be found, but it would have been easier in 2000, she said. She told Alexander Graf Lamsdorff (ALDE, Germany) that "democracy in Russia is very clearly going backwards", and this disconcerting development should be raised within a "frank and open" dialogue, in which "nothing must be left out". "Don't think I'm incapable of talking openly just because I'm a woman", she said.
Another subject which was raised by the MEPs was the European neighbourhood policy (ENP). This is a "key policy", which will be a priority of the Barroso Commission. When asked by several MEPs (especially Poles) about the situation of Ukraine, Ms Ferrero-Waldner pointed out that the ENP is not designed to lead the beneficiary countries into accession to the EU, but stressed that in the case of Ukraine, "the door [to accession] is open, not closed", and that the future of relations with the EU would depend on Kiev's attitude. On Belarus, the country has ruled itself out of the ENP until now, and democracy being what it is, there will be no changes to the EU's policy (excepting reinforced support to democratic forces in civil society), she said.
Relations with the United States will remain a priority for the EU's future foreign policy, and the 10th anniversary of the Transatlantic Declaration, in 2005; may be the time to breathe new life into this relationship with new positive impulses, said the Commissioner designate. On the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, Ms Ferrero-Waldner merely repeated the EU's well-known positions: the road map must be respected fully by all parties, the plan for Israeli withdrawal from the Gaza Strip should be carried out under the conditions planned and must only be a first step in the implementation of the road map, the Palestinians must assume their obligations in control and security more fully (but progress has been made in the reform of the Palestinian Authority in the fight against corruption), the EU has a role to play but in consultation with the international community (especially the Quartet). On Afghanistan, the EU cannot accept that, after liberation from the Taliban regime, the country could become a "Mafia-type drugs State". For this reason the EU and the international community must stay "for another ten years, certainly".
When asked about the funding of the future external policy and the place it should occupy in the forthcoming financial perspectives (2007-2013), Ms Ferrero-Waldner stressed that if the EU's external action is to become more effective, more active and more visible, then clearly it will need "more money, and I hope that the European Parliament will support me on this". But as the Austrian government (of which she is still a member) is currently defending a restrictive European budgetary policy (calling for expenditure to be limited to 1% of EU GDP), Ms Ferrero-Waldner chose to remain evasive on the question put by her compatriot Hannes Swoboda (PES), who wanted to know whether she supported the budgetary proposals of the Prodi Commission: this is a "negotiating basis" which the Heads of State and Government should use to reach a final agreement, she said.