Europe must be a global player, not a global payer

Thursday vote on Elmar Brok Report on the future of the Common Foreign and Security Policy

“The EU's Member States must co-operate more closely at European level in order to make Europe's voice heard in the world”, the Chairman of the European Parliament's Foreign Affairs Committee, Elmar Brok MEP, said today in the plenary debate on the future of the Common Foreign and Security Policy. The plenary of the European Parliament is expected to vote on a corresponding Report by Elmar Brok tomorrow.

"The world expects Europe to be a global actor instead of simply putting money on the table: a global player instead of a global payer. The successes of the EU's High Representative in Kosovo and in the negotiations with Iran clearly show that when Europe speaks with one voice, the world listens. EU Member States must now demonstrate greater political will to co-operate on European level", Brok said.

“Europe's foreign policy must be forward-looking instead of being reactive”, Brok said. "The EU has many strategies but no overall strategy."

Referring to the EU's High Representative, Brok said: “The European Commission’s activities must also be better linked to the work of the External Action Service. We must combine and use the synergies that are being created out of the three ‘hats’ - Vice-President of the Commission, High Representative, and Chair of the Foreign Affairs Council."

The Elmar Brok’s Report on the future of the Common Foreign and Security Policy will be voted tomorrow, 24 October, in the European Parliament plenary.