BRUSSELS, Jan 28 (Hina) - Increasing the importance of the European Union on the global scene is one of the key tasks after the Laeken summit, and the priority regions in this respect at the moment are the Middle East and the Balkans,
the EU high representative for common foreign and defence policy, Javier Solana, said on Monday. Addressing a EU Council of Ministers conference in Brussels, Solana said it was also important to bolster the so-called Barcelona process, cooperation in the Mediterranean, ties with Latin America, and to increase the presence in Africa. He pointed out the EU must start implementing the crisis management mechanism it declared operational at the Laeken summit, mentioning the take-over of the tasks of UN's international police in Bosnia and Herzegovina as a good test of the Union's determination and preparedness. The EU commissioner for foreign affairs, Chris Patten, speaking
BRUSSELS, Jan 28 (Hina) - Increasing the importance of the European
Union on the global scene is one of the key tasks after the Laeken
summit, and the priority regions in this respect at the moment are
the Middle East and the Balkans, the EU high representative for
common foreign and defence policy, Javier Solana, said on Monday.
Addressing a EU Council of Ministers conference in Brussels, Solana
said it was also important to bolster the so-called Barcelona
process, cooperation in the Mediterranean, ties with Latin
America, and to increase the presence in Africa.
He pointed out the EU must start implementing the crisis management
mechanism it declared operational at the Laeken summit, mentioning
the take-over of the tasks of UN's international police in Bosnia
and Herzegovina as a good test of the Union's determination and
preparedness.
The EU commissioner for foreign affairs, Chris Patten, speaking
about the so-called western Balkans, reiterated the EU must
continue implementing the Stabilisation and Association Process.
Austrian Foreign Minister Benita Ferrero-Waldner said in this
respect the strengthening of democracy in western Balkan countries
was a very important achievement, and that the five states in
question must be aware of their European prospects in order to
resume reforms.
According to Denmark's chief of diplomacy Per Stig Moller, the
western Balkan region indicates that engagement on the EU's part
can make a significant difference in the situation in the field.
Greece's Goerge Papandreu maintains the EU must do everything for
the stability of this region, to take it off the agenda, and that it
is crucial to uphold the respecting of state borders.
The EU members today supported the priorities Spain set during its
chairmanship in this year's first six months. These include
strengthening the EU's role on the international scene,
successfully introducing the euro, resuming preparations for
enlargement according to plan, launching the convention in charge
of drawing up proposals for institutional reforms in the EU,
resuming the Lisbon process of building a Europe of well-being, and
especially combating terrorism.
Silvio Berlusconi, Italy's prime minister and temporary foreign
minister whose recent statements and actions have brought his pro-
European stance into question among his EU partners, made a very
brief address in which he said Italy fully supported the objectives
of Spain's chairmanship and would actively and constructively work
on their realisation.
Foreign Minister Ferrero-Waldner said Austria considered the
successful completion of EU expansion very important. A recent
petition has shown that Austrians are concerned about nuclear
safety, which she said was something to be taken into account, not
only in the context of the Union's enlargement.
According to Belgium's Louis Michel, the success of the process
requires further discussions on some vague aspects regarding
costs.
Irish Foreign Minister Brian Cowen said his government advocated
the intention to ratify the nice agreement.
(hina) ha sb