Strasbourg, 12/12/2007 (Agence Europe) - “A changing Europe and a changing Middle East are here today,” said King Abdullah II of Jordan, addressing the European Parliament on Wednesday 12 December. “Second chances are rare, but I believe we have come to one,” he went on, speaking of the hopes brought about by the Annapolis Conference. “A change of strategy was required” and the commitments made towards a lasting peace between Israelis and Palestinians provided a new opportunity for the region. For this, the “active engagement” of all, especially Europe, was required: Europe had to inspire the confidence needed for the success of the political process, he went on, speaking in English. Through its unique experience in post-conflict rebuilding, Europe could help create a security framework that offered assurance to both sides. “European peacekeeping forces have played a constructive role in Lebanon. Your commitment can help bring great trust to Palestinian-Israeli settlement,” he stated. Above all, starting immediately, “we must”, he said, “begin to re-envision the future” for a region where conflict has given way to cooperation, where a regional economy brings together the capabilities and resources of 22 countries from the Atlantic to the Indian Ocean. Peace would “create new strategic space, allowing the resolution of other serious issues from poverty to proliferation”. Thus, “aggressive forces will no longer be able to exploit the Palestinian cause to serve their own ambitions and interests”. He added: “Today, we can think of a larger neighbourhood, one that stretches from north of the Baltic Sea to south of the Mediterranean, one that is shared by Europe and the Middle East. It is the basis of the Euro-Med Partnership … It is a relationship with great shared interests and unlimited potential”. (A.B.)