Brussels, 15/06/2007 (Agence Europe) - A few days before the European Council on 21-22 June, which will bring the period of German presidency to an end, German Foreign Affairs Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier called for greater European diplomacy in combating climate change, a threat hanging over world security. He expressed his government's determination to continue the fight after its EU presidency ends, a presidency which can be proud of its excellent record on targets for the long-term reduction of greenhouse gas emissions, energy efficiency and the development of renewable energy.
At the close of the 17th International Forum on Global Issues, organised in Berlin by the Federal Foreign Ministry, Mr Steinmeier said he was more than ever convinced “that we need a European diplomacy to face the foreign and security policy challenges presented by climate change. … Climate change and security must therefore remain on the EU's foreign and security policy agenda even when our presidency is over. Furthermore, the international community must in future prove even more convincingly that it can act as one on global policy issues concerning resources and the environment. This applies to fertile land and clean water as well as to energy resources. Africa, the Middle East and Central Asia are examples of regions in which the close relationship between foreign and security policy issues and climate change is already apparent. Here we need a new form of détente. A form of détente which rests on a central pillar comprising the development of global and regional regulation mechanisms for the common use of resources as well as peaceful conflict resolution. This preventive approach also applies in an international context”. That was why Mr Steinmeier had invited the foreign ministers of the G8 and G5 countries, along with other key partners, to come to Berlin at the end of the year to pursue foreign and security policy issues raised by energy security and climate change. “As foreign ministers we want to send a message to Bali (Ed: where international talks on post-Kyoto will be in December) that we intend to make climate policy a driving force behind international cooperation and stability,” he said. (an)