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E.U ministers put forward strategy for Mideast --

By Judy Dempsey

EU ministers put forward strategy for Mideast
By Judy Dempsey in Brussels

Published: March 25 2004

 

European Union foreign ministers on Thursday night set out a two-pronged security strategy for the Middle East, based on promoting reforms in the region while working with the US to resolve the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

The strategy marks a shift in policy, with the EU seeking ways to encourage democratic reforms in the Middle East without having them held hostage to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

"This is not a one size fits all approach," states the paper, expected to be presented at the Group of Eight and EU-US summits in June.

"The strategy should take account of differentiation and the requirements of individual countries in the region."

In practical terms, the EU wants to differentiate much more between countries that are trying to move faster with modernising their societies and those still reluctant to change.

Furthermore, instead of imposing its ideas on any of these countries, the EU wants to promote "ownership" and start consulting its partners in the region.

"Consulting with our partners is key," says the paper, backed by the European Commission. But if the EU is to have any credibility and success in the region, it says, "the countries themselves must feel a sense of 'ownership' of the initiative".

The EU's own policy towards the region comes in the wake of attempts by the US to draw up a "Greater Middle East" plan, which has been shelved for the time being, despite Washington's original aim of unveiling its democratisation proposals in the region during the Group of Eight summit.

US diplomats said Washington's plan was based on the premise that if democracy could be introduced into Iraq, the rest of the region could follow suit.

"We see the region in terms of security threats," added the diplomat.

The EU last night made it clear that it saw countries in the region as partners.

"For us, the countries of North Africa and the Middle East are our neighbours and partners in which engagement is long term and coherent," Javier Solana, the EU's foreign policy chief, said this week.

The strategy paper insists that the resolution of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict remains the EU's top priority for the region. However, it adds that the Union cannot ignore the wish and need for change in a region plagued by corruption, lack of perspective for the younger generation and growing unemployment.

"Progress on the Middle East conflict cannot be a precondition for confronting the urgent reform challenges facing the countries of the region and vice versa," it says.

Nevertheless, it adds, "it will not be possible to build a common zone of peace, prosperity and progress unless a just and lasting settlement of the conflict is in place.

"The lack of clear prospects for peace is already making it harder for reformers in the region to succeed."

The EU, which is the dominant trade partner in the region, allocates €3bn ($3.65bn, £2bn) each year in grants and loans.

Some of those funds will be shifted from big development projects to promoting human rights, supporting the rule of law and non-governmental organisation and judicial reform.



    
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